Texas - Seasonal flu 2013/2014 (other than Dallas or Houston areas)

[tetano]

El Paso records first flu-related death of season

The first flu-related death in El Paso was recorded Wednesday, according to the city's Department of Public Health.

The H1N1 influenza, a virus also known as the swine flu, has killed a middle-aged El Paso man, officials said in a written statement.

"We know that the H1N1 virus is present in our community, and as we saw back in 2009, we also know that it can be deadly," said Fernando Gonzalez, lead epidemiologist for the city's department of public health.

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http://www.elpasotimes.com/latestnews/ci_24868099/el-paso-records-first-flu-related-death-season?source=rss

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Re: El Paso records first flu-related death of season

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Re: El Paso records first flu-related death of season

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Re: El Paso records first flu-related death of season

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[tetano]

Catholic churches take precaution to prevent spread of H1N1 flu

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TX (KVEO NEWSCENTER 23) ? The H1N1 virus is spreading rapidly across the Valley, prompting everyone from doctors to teachers and now priests to take extra steps in preventing the illness from infecting more people.

In a traditional Catholic Mass, the Precious Body and Blood of Christ are consumed by parishioners, but with the H1N1 flu, some churches are not serving the Blood of Christ, which is taken from a communal chalice.

"Some parishes, because of the epidemics or for logistical reasons, decide not to have communion under both species," said Rev. Msgr. Heberto Diaz of the Diocese of Brownsville. "And that's up to the local pastor of each of the parishes. If someone is ill, then they shouldn't receive from the chalice."

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http://www.kveo.com/news/catholic-churches-take-precaution-prevent-spread-h1n1-flu

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Re: Texas: Ten-Day-Old Baby Dies from H1N1 in Bell County

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Re: Texas: Ten-Day-Old Baby Dies from H1N1 in Bell County

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Re: Texas: Ten-Day-Old Baby Dies from H1N1 in Bell County

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Re: At least five flu related deaths confirmed in Gregg County

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Re: At least five flu related deaths confirmed in Gregg County

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Re: At least five flu related deaths confirmed in Gregg County

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[tetano]

TX ETMC, Mother Frances may need to 'divert' some emergency room patients

The medical community is urging East Texans to get their flu vaccines as some medical providers see a steady flow of patients testing positive for the flu.

Medical officials today announced that they were experiencing extremely high volumes of patients in emergency departments most with upper respiratory problems such as the flu, pneumonia and severe colds.

Rebecca Berkley, a spokesperson at East Texas Medical Center said the hospital had been on ?divert,? which means the facility had exhausted their resources and must turn away patients being transferred or transported to their facility.

?ETMC Tyler rarely goes on divert but recently both ETMC and Trinity Mother Frances have been on divert, which means both Tyler hospitals will balance the flow of patients between them based on patient request,? Mrs. Berkley said in a written statement.

During the month of December, 167 people who visited ETMC and its emergency clinic on Broadway Avenue tested positive for the flu.

On Thursday, ETMC officials reported that one person who had the flu in Smith County had died, however, it has not been confirmed that the flu was the cause of death yet. Two other deaths associated with the flu were confirmed in Gregg County last month.

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http://www.tylerpaper.com/TP-Breaking+Silent/192586/etmc-mother-frances-may-need-to-divert-some-emergency-room-patients#.Us8Ml_vZ2h0

[tetano]

Hundreds hospitalized due to Houston-area virus (RSV)

HOUSTON (AP) ? Hundreds of children have been hospitalized in Houston-area hospitals suffering from a highly contagious respiratory virus that's proving more troublesome than the flu.

Officials with Texas Children's Hospital tell the Houston Chronicle (http://bit.ly/19V9swT ) that more than 600 patients tested positive in December for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. More than 140 pediatric patients have been submitted to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital since October.

RSV infects the lungs and breathing passages and generally strikes during the winter months. The illness causes influenza-like symptoms and can be life-threatening to infants.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas//news/texas/article/Hundreds-hospitalized-due-to-Houston-area-virus-5128513.php?cmpid=htx

[NS1]

Re: TX ETMC, Mother Frances may need to 'divert' some emergency room patients

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<tr style="float: center;"><td style="font-size: 140%; font-weight: bold;">ETMC, Mother Frances may need to 'divert' some emergency room patients
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<tr style="float: center;"><td style="font-size: 90%;">Medical officials today announced that they were experiencing extremely high volumes of patients in emergency departments most with upper respiratory problems such as the flu, pneumonia and severe colds.
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<tr style="float: center; font-size: 60%;"><td>COSHANDRA DILLARD</td></tr>
<tr style="float: center; font-size: 60%;"><td><a href="http://www.tylerpaper.com/" target="_blank">Tyler Morning Telegraph</a> Thursday, 9 January 2014 13:50</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 100%;">'MacClements said doctors should be are (sic, aware) that some of the rapid testing is coming up as false negative, so officials are encouraging them to treat patients with flu-like symptoms as if they have the flu.'

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Re: TX ETMC, Mother Frances may need to 'divert' some emergency room patients

News story
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<tr style="float: center;"><td style="font-size: 140%; font-weight: bold;">ETMC, Mother Frances may need to 'divert' some emergency room patients
</td></tr>
<tr style="float: center;"><td style="font-size: 90%;">Medical officials today announced that they were experiencing extremely high volumes of patients in emergency departments most with upper respiratory problems such as the flu, pneumonia and severe colds.
</td></tr>
<tr style="float: center; font-size: 100%;"><td></td></tr>
<tr style="float: center; font-size: 60%;"><td>COSHANDRA DILLARD</td></tr>
<tr style="float: center; font-size: 60%;"><td><a href="http://www.tylerpaper.com/" target="_blank">Tyler Morning Telegraph</a> Thursday, 9 January 2014 13:50</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 100%;">'In addition, he said the H1N1 strain circulating has some resistance to one of the medications.

“There seem to be a little bit of resistance—a very small resistance—to some of the medications right now, to Tamiflu,” he said.'

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