Do you live in Israel, and if so, are you one of the 15.7 percent of Israelis who were smart enough to get their flu shot this season?
So far this season (2019-2020), there have been 10 influenza-related deaths; the most recent came on the first day of Chanukah, when doctors were forced to declare the death of a 19-year-old boy who was rushed to the emergency room at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
The teenager was suffering with the flu at home but was “dealing with it” – right up to the point he lost consciousness. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital, he stopped breathing. He was placed on a respirator and doctors managed to get his pulse going again, but after a short time, the teen succumbed.
There are 98 more Israelis who are seriously ill with the flu as well, according to the Health Ministry.
Last year, 37 Israelis died of the illness.