A woman in Buncombe County is the first person with a confirmed case of the flu in North Carolina this season, state health officials say.

State Health Director Leah Devlin announced the finding in the mountain county and urged people to get flu shots. Plenty of flu vaccine is available this year, unlike some past years, she said in a news release.

State Epidemiologist Jeff Engel said the woman, 43, had the strain of flu known as Type A, which accounts for many flu cases in the southern hemisphere. Type A tends to be more serious than the other strain of flu, known as Type B.

In addition to getting flu shots, health officials said people should:

- Cover coughs and sneezes.

- Use tissues and throw them away after each use.

- Wash hands often.

- Stay home if experiencing flu symptoms.