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Indiana Health Dept: We've Seen The Largest H1N1 Deaths In One Week
By Laura Donaldson
Story Published: Nov 5, 2009 at 6:05 PM EST
(Story Updated: Nov 5, 2009 at 6:17 PM EST )
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana?s NewsCenter) - State health officials are confirming the deadliest H1N1 week in the Hoosier state.
Multimedia Watch The Video Officials say nine Hoosiers died last week from complications of the H1N1 flu, including one Allen County resident.
That surge nearly doubled the state's H1N1 fatalities to twenty, since June.
Health officials say hospitalization rates for seasonal flu, H1N1 and pneumonia have risen 41-percent over the past three weeks as the H1N1 pandemic continues.
Despite those numbers officials say they are seeing some signs the illness is easing. Health officials say emergency rooms saw a slight dip in flu activity last week. Nine schools reported absentee rates higher than 20-percent. And university health centers also saw a decrease in H1N1 cases.
But there are concerning new trends when it comes to Hoosier children and H1N1.
?The younger age groups, the 0-18 years of age and the 25-64 year old age group have surpassed the older age groups in terms of having the highest rate of hospitalizations due to influenza and pneumonia and that is the first time we've observed that during the pandemic,? said Pam Pontones with the Indiana Department of Health.
Pontones says there is a much lower fatality rate associated with H1N1 compared to seasonal flu, so she says there's no reason to panic.
With the increase in deaths state health officials can't say whether we've seen the peak of the H1N1 virus.
?It's hard to say exactly when deaths might peak or how many we might have,? Pontones said. ?This is a new strain, it has a different severity level and it affects different age groups.?
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Health Department is expanding its H1N1 flu vaccine clinic to another group of people.
Allen County residents age 25 to 64,who have chronic health problems or compromised immune systems, can get the H1N1 vaccine at the Carew Medical Center.
Children under age ten can get a booster of the H1N1 vaccine beginning next week.