Health officials confirmed the Valley's first death due to flu this season, according to a news release Tuesday.
The woman who died was in her late 70s and had been hospitalized with underlying medical conditions, according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
"Influenza is a big deal. Every year, right here in our community, hundreds of people will die from complications caused by the flu, and thousands will be hospitalized," said MCDPH director Dr. Bob England.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine.
Although there's no guarantee, MCDPH said the CDC is predicting a better match this season to circulating strains than last year.
