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Source: http://www.mydesert.com/article/2009...achella+Valley
Swine flu: 3 deaths in the Coachella Valley
Nicole C. Brambila ? The Desert Sun ? August 31, 2009
In the past two weeks, the Coachella Valley has had three swine flu-related deaths, county health officials said today.
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Riverside County has more than 200 confirmed cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, and five deaths.
The valley?s deaths occurred between the middle and the end of August, said Barbara Cole, director of Riverside County Department of Public Health disease control.
Because of patient confidentiality laws, Cole would only release the gender and age of the victims ? a 63-year-old female, a 46-year-old female and a 40-year-old male.
To put the deaths into perspective, more than 4,000 Californians die each year because of seasonal influenza.
Flu season typically begins in mid-October and runs through March.
This year, however, the county has had cases of swine flu throughout the summer months.
?Unfortunately, people die even from seasonal influenza every year,? Cole said. ?Unfortunately, deaths are not unexpected.?
Riverside County has racked up nearly $40,000 in overtime costs responding to the swine flu outbreak.
The World Health Organization, which declared swine flu a global pandemic in June, first announced the novel influenza virus in April.
A pandemic designation does not indicate severity, but prevalence.
To date, the U.S. and its territories have had 556 swine flu deaths, according to the CDC.
As of Aug. 23, health officials have reported more than 209,000 cases worldwide with at least 2,184deaths.
The public can guard against the flu with good hygiene practices: washing hands regularly and covering one?s mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Swine flu: 3 deaths in the Coachella Valley
Nicole C. Brambila ? The Desert Sun ? August 31, 2009
In the past two weeks, the Coachella Valley has had three swine flu-related deaths, county health officials said today.
Advertisement
Riverside County has more than 200 confirmed cases of H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, and five deaths.
The valley?s deaths occurred between the middle and the end of August, said Barbara Cole, director of Riverside County Department of Public Health disease control.
Because of patient confidentiality laws, Cole would only release the gender and age of the victims ? a 63-year-old female, a 46-year-old female and a 40-year-old male.
To put the deaths into perspective, more than 4,000 Californians die each year because of seasonal influenza.
Flu season typically begins in mid-October and runs through March.
This year, however, the county has had cases of swine flu throughout the summer months.
?Unfortunately, people die even from seasonal influenza every year,? Cole said. ?Unfortunately, deaths are not unexpected.?
Riverside County has racked up nearly $40,000 in overtime costs responding to the swine flu outbreak.
The World Health Organization, which declared swine flu a global pandemic in June, first announced the novel influenza virus in April.
A pandemic designation does not indicate severity, but prevalence.
To date, the U.S. and its territories have had 556 swine flu deaths, according to the CDC.
As of Aug. 23, health officials have reported more than 209,000 cases worldwide with at least 2,184deaths.
The public can guard against the flu with good hygiene practices: washing hands regularly and covering one?s mouth when coughing or sneezing.