An elderly man's death from "flu-associated causes" was reported Friday as the first such case in Riverside County during the 2024-25 flu season.

A statement from the Riverside County Executive Office Communications team confirmed that the man was from the eastern Coachella Valley, but did not identify his name or exact city of residence. Officials said the man's death, which occurred earlier in October, served as a reminder about the necessity of anti-flu measures.

"Vaccination is safe, simple and widely available," Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung said in a statement. "I urge all residents to take this vital step in protecting themselves and staying healthy this winter," Leung said.

In addition to encouraging vaccine for residents more than 6 months old, the statement urged the public to take steps such as washing hands thoroughly and frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, consider indoor masking and stay home from work or school with illness symptoms.

Cases of influenza are especially serious for at-risk individuals, such as "those who are immunocompromised, elderly, young (e.g., children under 5 years), pregnant or have certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease)."

"Now is the time to be aware of the dangers that influenza can present to our communities and do what we can to reduce the risk of getting or spreading the flu to others," Leung said.

The county's respiratory illness dashboard can be viewed at www.ruhealth.org/public-health/respiratory-viruses.