Tweet
Source: http://www.bakersfield.com/news/loca...in-Kern-County
Local woman dies of swine flu, first fatal case in Kern County
BY DAVIN MCHENRY, Breaking news editor
dmchenry@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Sep 12 2009 05:29 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Sep 12 2009 05:30 PM
A 37-year-old Bakersfield woman died Saturday morning from the swine flu, according to public health officials.
Maria Palacios, mother of four, is Kern County's first fatal case of the new flu strain, officially known as H1N1 Influenza.
Palacios' daughter, 21-year-old Maria Vasquez, said her mother had been suffering for many years from a form of Hepatitis that had ravaged her immune system and was causing liver failure.
The disease had left her weakened and easy prey for all manner of illnesses. Palacios was suffering from pneumonia and another respiratory illness when she was admitted to the hospital, Vasquez said.
"She actually just went in because she had a fever," she said.
But soon after the doctors put Palacios on a breathing machine. The family had to wear masks, gloves and protective clothing when they visited her, Vasquez said.
She died around 4:30 a.m. Saturday.
Palacios leaves behind a 16-year-old daughter, an 8-year-old son and a 2 1/2 year old daughter. The family came to Bakersfield about 4 1/2 years ago, moving up from Los Angeles, Vasquez said.
Palacios had come down with Hepatitis around nine years ago, while pregnant with her son, Vasquez said. At one point she was trying to get a liver transplant, but the process took too long, Vasquez said.
Through it all, her mother was not one to complain, she said.
"All the pain she was going through, no one knew," her daughter said. "She would keep it to herself."
Despite her illness, Palacios always was upbeat and spent much of her time after becoming disabled looking after her youngest daughter and her granddaughter.
"She was a very happy person," Vasquez said.
So far at least 15 people in Kern County have been hospitalized with a severe case of the disease.
The county stopped announcing every confirmed case of swine flu in mid-August, when the total reached 86 people.
Now they only report those who have been hospitalized with the illness.
A 15-month-old child in Ridgecrest was the first person to have a confirmed case of swine flu in Kern County, back in May.
So how can you protect yourself?
Public Health officials say you need to follow the "three Cs" -- "Cover" your coughs in your sleeves; "Clean" your hands often; and "Confine" yourself at home when sick.
While a swine flu vaccine is in development, public health officials have said it won't be available until October and access will be limited at first to high-risk groups -- people with reduced immunity or respiratory illness.
For more information, call the swine flu hotline at 877-81VIRUS.
Local woman dies of swine flu, first fatal case in Kern County
BY DAVIN MCHENRY, Breaking news editor
dmchenry@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Sep 12 2009 05:29 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Sep 12 2009 05:30 PM
A 37-year-old Bakersfield woman died Saturday morning from the swine flu, according to public health officials.
Maria Palacios, mother of four, is Kern County's first fatal case of the new flu strain, officially known as H1N1 Influenza.
Palacios' daughter, 21-year-old Maria Vasquez, said her mother had been suffering for many years from a form of Hepatitis that had ravaged her immune system and was causing liver failure.
The disease had left her weakened and easy prey for all manner of illnesses. Palacios was suffering from pneumonia and another respiratory illness when she was admitted to the hospital, Vasquez said.
"She actually just went in because she had a fever," she said.
But soon after the doctors put Palacios on a breathing machine. The family had to wear masks, gloves and protective clothing when they visited her, Vasquez said.
She died around 4:30 a.m. Saturday.
Palacios leaves behind a 16-year-old daughter, an 8-year-old son and a 2 1/2 year old daughter. The family came to Bakersfield about 4 1/2 years ago, moving up from Los Angeles, Vasquez said.
Palacios had come down with Hepatitis around nine years ago, while pregnant with her son, Vasquez said. At one point she was trying to get a liver transplant, but the process took too long, Vasquez said.
Through it all, her mother was not one to complain, she said.
"All the pain she was going through, no one knew," her daughter said. "She would keep it to herself."
Despite her illness, Palacios always was upbeat and spent much of her time after becoming disabled looking after her youngest daughter and her granddaughter.
"She was a very happy person," Vasquez said.
So far at least 15 people in Kern County have been hospitalized with a severe case of the disease.
The county stopped announcing every confirmed case of swine flu in mid-August, when the total reached 86 people.
Now they only report those who have been hospitalized with the illness.
A 15-month-old child in Ridgecrest was the first person to have a confirmed case of swine flu in Kern County, back in May.
So how can you protect yourself?
Public Health officials say you need to follow the "three Cs" -- "Cover" your coughs in your sleeves; "Clean" your hands often; and "Confine" yourself at home when sick.
While a swine flu vaccine is in development, public health officials have said it won't be available until October and access will be limited at first to high-risk groups -- people with reduced immunity or respiratory illness.
For more information, call the swine flu hotline at 877-81VIRUS.
Comment