KINGSTON — Despite urges from the Kitsap County Health District that the information at Monday evening’s flu talk was invaluable, only one person showed up to hear the presentation. Though disheartening, officials said this is a problem they regularly run into.

“It’s really very discouraging,” said Kitsap County Health District special project manager Betty Dunaway. “We had a program not too long ago in Bremerton where we could vaccinate children for the flu for free. We sent out 5,000 packets and invitations, and only 300 children showed up to be vaccinated.”

The lack of interest could be attributed to the fact that there hasn’t been a major outbreak involving the flu or another disease recently, said health district regional public health emergency response coordinator Brian Arcement.

“We have to have a crisis before people really get interested,” he said. “It’s frustrating, because there’s so much that could be prevented if people just prepare for it.”

The one person who did show up to the discussion, Poulsbo resident Peter Apgar, said he learned some new information he hadn’t considered before.

“I didn’t know that bacteria in our houses is probably friendly bacteria,” he said after sitting through an abbreviated version of the presentation. “I also never really thought about where we put our groceries, like the car floor, and that they get put on the counters when we bring them in the house.”

Dunaway walked Apgar through an explanation about how to prevent the flu, and find a balance between sterilizing everything one comes in contact with and ignoring hygiene all together.

“All bacteria in the home is your bacteria,” she said. “It’s what your used to. However, raw chicken on the counter should be cleaned up because its something your body isn’t used to. Definitely sanitize, just don’t go nutty over it.”

Dunaway and Arcement urge local residents to look up ways to prevent the flu online and offered these tips to stay healthy:

• Practice good hand-washing skills, especially before eating.

• Don’t put your hands near your face or mouth any more than is necessary.

• If you work in an office, regularly clean the telephone and keyboard. Both carry the largest amounts of bacteria in an office, while the toilet has the smallest.

• Even though it’s not pleasant to think about, prepare for an outbreak event by storing three days worth of food, water and living necessities in the home.

• All children should be vaccinated for the flu.

For questions about getting vaccinated, contact a local physician or the health district at (360) 337-5235.