Two Fairbanks deaths linked to flu

[Shiloh]

Source: http://newsminer.com/news/2009/sep/3...hs-linked-flu/

Two Fairbanks deaths linked to flu
Staff Report
Published Wednesday, September 30, 2009


The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services reported two Fairbanks women died from flu-related problems on Thursday.

The women had pre-existing medical conditions and were hospitalized prior to their deaths, according to a DHSS news release. Both had laboratory confirmation of influenza A infection.

State officials urge all Alaskans be vaccinated against both seasonal and swine flu. People with pre-existing conditions should contact health-care providers if they develop flu symptoms. Healthy people can usually treat symptoms at home, but they should also contact their providers if their symptoms are severe.

[Shiloh]

Re: Two Fairbanks deaths linked to flu

Source: http://www.adn.com/swineflu/story/954541.html

Women's deaths bring swine flu toll in Alaska up to five

DATABASE: State says it will no longer issue notices of H1N1-related fatalities.

By MEGAN HOLLAND
mholland@adn.com

Published: September 29th, 2009 08:23 PM
Last Modified: September 29th, 2009 10:59 PM

Two more swine flu-related deaths have been reported in Alaska.

Both of them were Fairbanks women who died on Sept. 24. Both reportedly had pre-existing medical conditions, according to a statement from the state Department of Health and Social Services.

The department also announced Tuesday it will no longer issue a notice each time someone dies a flu-related death. An online database will be maintained and updated weekly on Wednesdays, the department said.

That Web site is www.pandemicflu.alaska.gov.

"It was important for us to inform the Alaska public and health care providers of the initial deaths in order to demonstrate that, like seasonal influenza, this 2009 H1N1 influenza can be lethal," said state epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin.

"This message is now clear to Alaskans and it is no longer necessary for us to notify the public of each death."

Each year, the seasonal flu kills about 35,000 people in the United States, of which roughly 80 are in Alaska, he said. "We have never reported those fatalities in the past."

Many health care professionals are treating the H1N1 virus as a second seasonal flu. The public is being encouraged to get both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 vaccine shot to protect themselves and stem the spread of the virus.

Healthy people can usually treat their illness at home but health officials say they should contact their doctor if symptoms are severe.

McLaughlin said Alaska health care professionals are seeing an unusual number of flu cases for this time of year. Nearly all of the cases are the H1N1 virus.

The seasonal flu vaccine is available now. The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available mid-October.

The two recent deaths bring to five the number of H1N1-related deaths in Alaska.

Find Megan Holland online at adn.com/contact/mholland or call 257-4343.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Two Fairbanks deaths linked to flu

I'm very disappointed in our state's DHSS for not being truthful about the flu situation.

They better not complain if the public doesn't trust them and acts based on wrong information, because those who know the truth aren't sharing the facts. The "trust me, I know better than you do about what is best for you" mantra is being very disrespectful toward the public.

Some people may want to know whether we have current cases of H3N2 or influenza B as part of their decision to have a seasonal vaccine. Now they cannot make informed decisions.

"Truth in lending" requires credit card companies to mail to each cardholder a notice about rate increases, yet we don't require "truth in disease transmission" to inform the public about illness/death increase. Amazing.

.

[Shiloh]

Re: Two Fairbanks deaths linked to flu

One of these deaths is Erica Louise Tomsha, 25, of Fairbanks who is reported on Here

Still looking for confirmation for the death of Jimmy Donald O'Leary, 52, of North Pole, passed away on Sept. 19, 2009, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital because of flu complications. (see Here)

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Two Fairbanks deaths linked to flu

The problem is that we can't say those deaths are from novel H1N1.

The 25 year old girl was undergoing cancer treatment, so any flu could be a serious challenge for her. Not all oncologists remember to advise their patients to get a flu vaccine prior to chemo.

We just finished our tourist season, with over a million visitors (> state's total population) from around the world, so any strain from anywhere could be circulating.

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