Madison County reports first swine flu-related death

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/new...ewthread&f=200

Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
Madison County reports first swine flu-related death
JACQUELINE LEE - News-Democrat

An Oregan man died Wednesday at Anderson Hospital Maryville -- the first death attributed to the swine flu virus in Madison County.

Derrick Keel, 45, a truck driver from Beaverton, Ore., drove himself to Anderson Hospital on Sunday night and was admitted with "complaints of fever, shortness of breath and a non-productive cough that had been present for several days," Coroner Stephen P. Nonn stated in a news release.

Keel was given treatment for several days, but his condition continued to deteriorate, Nonn said.

"He was treated for flu-like symptoms," Nonn said. "There isn't a specific treatment for H1N1 symptoms."

Keel was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. Wednesday.

Nonn said that an autopsy verified Keel's "diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia and the presence of the H1N1 virus confirmed through the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory..."

Nonn cautioned residents not to overreact to news of the H1N1-related death.

"This death should not incite panic, unnecessary fear, or anxiety," Nonn stated. "The best treatment for influenza continues to be prevention with frequent hand-washing, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and staying at home when sick."

Keel worked as an over-the-road truck driver for Landstar System, Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., and his job had taken him through several states prior to his hospitalization.

Funeral arrangements for Keel are pending at Terry Funeral Home in Portland, Ore.

[hawkeye]

Re: Madison County reports first swine flu-related death

Madison County reports first swine flu death
Oregon man was treated in Maryville
BY JACQUELINE LEE - News-Democrat


An Oregon man died Wednesday at Anderson Hospital in Maryville -- the first death attributed to the swine flu virus in Madison County.

Derrick Keel, 45, a truck driver from Beaverton, Ore., drove himself to the hospital on Sunday night and was admitted with "complaints of fever, shortness of breath and a non-productive cough that had been present for several days," Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn stated in a news release Friday.

Keel was given treatment for several days, but his condition deteriorated, Nonn said.

"He was treated for flu-like symptoms," Nonn said. "There isn't a specific treatment for H1N1 symptoms."

Keel was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. Wednesday.

Nonn said that an autopsy verified Keel's "diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia and the presence of the H1N1 virus confirmed through the Illinois Department of Public Health laboratory ...."

Although the presence of H1N1 was not determined until after Keel's death, Nonn said that hospital staff took the necessary precautions to prevent contamination in response to Keel's symptoms.

Nonn cautioned residents not to overreact to news of the H1N1-related death.

"This death should not incite panic, unnecessary fear, or anxiety," Nonn stated. "The best treatment for influenza continues to be prevention with frequent hand-washing, covering the mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, and staying at home when sick."

Keel worked as an over-the-road truck driver for Landstar System Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., and his job had taken him through several states before he was hospitalized. A Landstar System Inc. spokesman could not be reached for comment Friday.

"Obviously we don't have any idea of how or when he might have contracted it," Nonn said. "This virus is passed on by people who sneeze into their hands, don't cover their mouth when they sneeze, etc., so how and when is anybody's guess. But H1N1 is no different than a normal flu infection. It's more publicized, it's more public, but it's like catching a cold."

Funeral arrangements for Keel are pending at Terry Funeral Home in Portland, Ore.

The H1N1 virus has been linked to 7,983 hospitalizations and 522 deaths in the United States and its territories as of Aug. 21, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The CDC discontinued reporting individual confirmed and probable cases July 24.

The virus has been linked to 391 hospitalizations and 17 deaths in Illinois as of Aug. 21, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

[colormyquilt]

Re: Madison County reports first swine flu-related death

Madison County reports first swine flu death

An Oregon man died Wednesday at Anderson Hospital in Maryville
Derrick Keel, 45, a truck driver from Beaverton, Ore., drove himself to the hospital on Sunday night and was admitted... Keel was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. Wednesday...an autopsy verified Keel's "diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia and the presence of the H1N1 virus...

"This death should not incite panic, unnecessary fear, or anxiety," Nonn stated.

Summary: death of 45 year-old healthy male with no report of any medical conditions pre-disposing him to complications from H1N1. Death was rapid, being admitted (to hospital) on Sunday with death on Wednesday. With autopsy presenting bilateral pneumonia and H1N1.
With continued deaths being reported such as this and lack of transparency re: all information needed to contain and mitigate, I find it hard to understand how anything other than panic, fear, anxiety would not follow.

We do not need panic. We do not need anxiety that cripples people's "normal response" to make their own decisions re: safety. We simply need "truth." Statements that are factual and reliable about onset, progression, response of the body, rapidity of deterioration including organ failure, treatment option(s), or lack of, can be made that do not compromise the privacy of the individual(s).

There are autopsy reports. There are first hand reports from health care workers on the front lines. There is information from families. There is an abundance of information from scientists and governmental agencies from around the world.

Becasue there may be information available to me that there are some bad forest fires burning the next state over does not mean I will start hosing my house. But, if the winds are blowing my way, I need and have the right to that information.