WATCH: Warnings issued after flu-related deaths

Transcript for Warnings issued after flu-related deaths

We are back now with that new alert about the flu. It may only be October, but doctors are already issuing warnings after reports of several flu-related deaths. Gio Benitez is here with the latest. Good morning, gio. Reporter: Good morning. Yeah, one of those people was a seemingly healthy 29-year-old. She got the flu. Then cardiac arrest. Now this morning, doctors want you to pay close attention after so many deaths last year. This morning, concerns over an early start to flu season after a 29-year-old lawyer from north Carolina, Scarlett vanstory Levinson died from a heart attack following complications from the flu. Her friends in shock. You have to take sickness like that seriously. Reporter: An elderly person dying last week in north Carolina because of the flu. Children and the elderly are most at risk. It’s early in the season, but doctors are already sounding the alarm. As a physician I’m already worried about it so maybe the public should be a little more worried. Reporter: Last year showed us just how deadly the flu could be. The CDC releasing new numbers estimating last season’s flu killed 80,000 people in the U.S. Including 180 children. The highest death toll in nearly four decades. A whopping nearly million hospitalized overwhelming hospitals, forcing people to be treated in tents outside emergency rooms, remarkably, less than half of the population last year got that flu vaccine, even though doctors say it’s the best defense. It’s probably the number one thing to prevent the spread and severity of the illness and especially people who have chronic medical conditions like respiratory issue, asthma, COPD, that sort of stuff, the flu impacts them. Reporter: Of course, people die from the flu year round but these coming months are the most concerning. It takes about two weeks after vaccination to develop antibodies that protect against the flu. When is the best time to get the shot? Can you get it too early and does it wear off? It’s supposed to last. It’s supposed to be effective through the whole season. That’s why the CDC says you should get that shot by the end of this month, October. Time is ticking. All right. Thank you so much, gio.

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