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First SLO County resident dies from swine flu
By April Charlton/Senior Staff Writer/acharlton@theadobepress.com
The first swine flu fatality on the Central Coast has been confirmed by health officials in San Luis Obispo County.
An unidentified, middle-aged San Luis Obispo County resident died last Friday after being hospitalized with the H1N1 swine flu virus, according to Health Agency officials.
Health officials are not releasing the man’s name, age, hometown or the name of the hospital where he was treated.
The man is the first in the county to die from the illness, and he’s the 81st person to die in California from the virus that surfaced earlier this year and caused widespread panic because no vaccine is available.
A vaccine for the swine flu virus is in production and could be available by fall or early winter, according to health officials.
Most reported cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus have caused mild or moderate illnesses, and the majority of individuals who have contracted the virus recover, said Dr. Penny Borenstein, county health officer.
She said the unidentified man had other underlying health conditions that may have put him at higher risk for contracting a more severe case of the illness.
To date, there have been 699 hospitalizations in California for the swine flu and only one in the county.
Health officials are anticipating more swine flu-related deaths throughout California and the rest of the nation before the outbreak ends, Borenstein said.
“Everyone should continue taking steps to prevent the flu,” she said, adding the county is also experiencing a higher-than-normal flu incidence for this time of year.
To prevent the spread of germs and the flu virus, health officials recommend:
n Washing your hands often with soap and hot water, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
n Coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow.
n Avoiding close contact with sick people and large gatherings of people.
For more information about the H1N1 swine flu virus, call the San Luis Obispo County Public Health’s information line at 788-2903.
By April Charlton/Senior Staff Writer/acharlton@theadobepress.com
The first swine flu fatality on the Central Coast has been confirmed by health officials in San Luis Obispo County.
An unidentified, middle-aged San Luis Obispo County resident died last Friday after being hospitalized with the H1N1 swine flu virus, according to Health Agency officials.
Health officials are not releasing the man’s name, age, hometown or the name of the hospital where he was treated.
The man is the first in the county to die from the illness, and he’s the 81st person to die in California from the virus that surfaced earlier this year and caused widespread panic because no vaccine is available.
A vaccine for the swine flu virus is in production and could be available by fall or early winter, according to health officials.
Most reported cases of the H1N1 swine flu virus have caused mild or moderate illnesses, and the majority of individuals who have contracted the virus recover, said Dr. Penny Borenstein, county health officer.
She said the unidentified man had other underlying health conditions that may have put him at higher risk for contracting a more severe case of the illness.
To date, there have been 699 hospitalizations in California for the swine flu and only one in the county.
Health officials are anticipating more swine flu-related deaths throughout California and the rest of the nation before the outbreak ends, Borenstein said.
“Everyone should continue taking steps to prevent the flu,” she said, adding the county is also experiencing a higher-than-normal flu incidence for this time of year.
To prevent the spread of germs and the flu virus, health officials recommend:
n Washing your hands often with soap and hot water, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
n Coughing or sneezing into a tissue or your elbow.
n Avoiding close contact with sick people and large gatherings of people.
For more information about the H1N1 swine flu virus, call the San Luis Obispo County Public Health’s information line at 788-2903.
