City Councilman Mark Kersey Loses Brother to H1N1

Councilman Mark Kersey is pleading with everyone to get a flu shot

San Diego City Councilman Mark Kersey has lost his 37-year-old brother to the H1N1 influenza strain, according to his Twitter page. 

Bradley Nolan Kersey died Monday in a Pennsylvania hospital.  He was living in Avella, Penn., with his wife and four children. His obituary in the Observer-Reporter said he was a mechanic who always put his family first. 
 
Mark Kersey tweeted about his brother’s death Friday, pleading with everyone to get a flu shot. 
 
The Kersey family set up a fund to help Bradley’s children, who are 17, 13, 7 and 3 years old. The money will help with basic expenses like clothing, food and utilities, according to the GoFundMe.com description. 
 
So far, more than $2,000 has been raised with a goal of $20,000.
 
Bradley’s funeral will be Saturday in West Virginia, and his body will be buried in Ohio, where he, his brother and two sisters lived, his obituary said.
 
Officials at the Centers for Disease Control said this season's H1N1 is hitting young adults hard, affecting more than just elderly victims as in typical years. The CDC said 55 percent of the people who died this year are considered middle-aged. 
 
In San Diego County, 20 people have died from influenza, including a 31-year-old man last week
 
However, the County Public Health Officer said the number of flu cases this season seems to be leveling off. 
 
For those who want to follow Kersey's advice, flu shots are available at doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies. It takes two weeks for the shot to become effective.
 
This year’s vaccine protects against H1N1, Influenza A H3N2 and Influenza B strains. 
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