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Source: http://gcdailyworld.com/story/1583508.html
BREAKING NEWS: Greene County reports first H1N1-related death
Saturday, October 31, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor
Greene County has its first reported H1N1-related death.
Fred Ridge, M.D. -- the Greene County Health Officer -- announced in a Saturday morning news release to the Greene County Daily World that a county resident had died from "H1N1 flu related complications".
In the news release, Ridge noted that due to confidentiality reasons, no other information about this individual is being released.
"We are deeply saddened by this death and our sympathies go out to the family," Ridge stated.
The Greene County Daily World was unable to contact Dr. Ridge on Saturday morning for additional information about when and where the death occurred.
With the latest death in Greene County, the state death toll from the 2009 H1N1 flu is at 13.
The Indiana Department of Health reported two H1N1 related deaths on Friday in Hamilton and Allen counties.
In a weekly update from the CDC issued on Friday, officials reported
*Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased steeply since last week in the United States, and overall, are much higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons.
*Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year. Hospitalization rates continue to be highest is younger populations with the highest hospitalization rate reported in children 0-4 years old.
*Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 114 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths and another 12 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but where the flu virus subtype was not determined.
*Forty-eight states -- including Indiana -- are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
*Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
The Greene County medical officer reminds local residents that precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of this virus.
Among his suggestions are:
*Clean your hands frequently.
*Cover your cough and sneeze.
*Contain your germs by staying home if sick.
Ridge said the Greene County Health Department has been offering free H1N1 immunizations to individuals in high risk target populations for the past two weeks.
"Plans are being finalized to start school immunization clinics as soon as adequate vaccine supplies are received from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
For more information about H1N1 immunizations, contact the Greene County Health Department by calling 384-4496.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.
BREAKING NEWS: Greene County reports first H1N1-related death
Saturday, October 31, 2009
By Nick Schneider, Assistant Editor
Greene County has its first reported H1N1-related death.
Fred Ridge, M.D. -- the Greene County Health Officer -- announced in a Saturday morning news release to the Greene County Daily World that a county resident had died from "H1N1 flu related complications".
In the news release, Ridge noted that due to confidentiality reasons, no other information about this individual is being released.
"We are deeply saddened by this death and our sympathies go out to the family," Ridge stated.
The Greene County Daily World was unable to contact Dr. Ridge on Saturday morning for additional information about when and where the death occurred.
With the latest death in Greene County, the state death toll from the 2009 H1N1 flu is at 13.
The Indiana Department of Health reported two H1N1 related deaths on Friday in Hamilton and Allen counties.
In a weekly update from the CDC issued on Friday, officials reported
*Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased steeply since last week in the United States, and overall, are much higher than what is expected for this time of the year. ILI activity now is higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons.
*Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu are climbing and are higher than expected for this time of year. Hospitalization rates continue to be highest is younger populations with the highest hospitalization rate reported in children 0-4 years old.
*Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 114 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths and another 12 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but where the flu virus subtype was not determined.
*Forty-eight states -- including Indiana -- are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time. This many reports of widespread activity are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
*Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far are 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
The Greene County medical officer reminds local residents that precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of this virus.
Among his suggestions are:
*Clean your hands frequently.
*Cover your cough and sneeze.
*Contain your germs by staying home if sick.
Ridge said the Greene County Health Department has been offering free H1N1 immunizations to individuals in high risk target populations for the past two weeks.
"Plans are being finalized to start school immunization clinics as soon as adequate vaccine supplies are received from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).
For more information about H1N1 immunizations, contact the Greene County Health Department by calling 384-4496.
This story will be updated as information becomes available.