The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is encouraging Hoosiers to protect themselves against influenza (flu) after confirming the first flu-related death of the 2025-26 season. A news release said no additional information about the patient will be released due to privacy laws. Flu season typically runs from October through May. State health officials say more than 660 Hoosiers died after contracting influenza during the 2024-25 flu season. “Each year we want to stress the importance of taking steps to prevent influenza, which can quickly become a serious illness for some Hoosiers and can even be life-threatening,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year, officials said. The CDC also says it takes about two weeks for the antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body. The state health department said people can also help prevent the spread of flu by practicing the “Three Cs” to help prevent the spread of flu and other infectious diseases:
Clean: Properly wash hands with warm, soapy water
Cover: Cover your cough and sneeze with your arm or disposable tissue
Contain: Stay home from school or work when you are sick to prevent the spread of germs.
Flu season data is reflected on the IDOH influenza dashboard each week and is updated on Mondays. Due to reporting timeframes, this death will be reflected in the Nov. 3, 2025, update. Here’s a link for more information.
