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Source: http://www.thesewardphoenixlog.com/news/show/7335
Fatal result for H1N1 in Seward
CINTHIA RITCHIE
September 17, 2009 at 1:00PM AKST
A Seward woman who died of respiratory and pre-existing medical conditions Aug. 28 became the third H1N1-flu related death in the state.
According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the middle-aged woman was admitted to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage on Aug. 15 with flu-like symptoms.
?She had symptom of cough for three or four days and a fever on the day of admission,? said state medical epidemiologist Beth Funk.
A viral sample submitted to the Alaska State virology laboratory later tested positive for H1N1 flu.
But don?t panic. While the H1N1 flu has reaped a lot of media attention, it has proved relatively mild except in rare cases.
What people do have to worry about is that traditional flu season is right around the corner.
?People might think, whew, I don?t have to worry about that. But you have to realize that the common flu can be a problem to people with pre-existing health problems,? Funk said.
Approximately 30,000 people die of influenza each year. While most of these are classified as high-risk, there also is, according to Funk, a small segment of the population that dies from traditional flu strains even without apparent underlying health problems. ?We know the flu is all throughout the state and know many people have had it who probably haven?t gone to see their doctors. And only three people have died,? Funk said.
Most will recover from H1N1 as they do the regular flu, she said. ?But some of these individuals will have this sad outcome.?
A 10-year-old Fairbanks child died from the second confirmed case of H1N1 flu the evening of Sept. 4. A school nurse sent the child home from Hunter Elementary School on Sept. 3 with flu symptoms. He was admitted to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and later transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
Lab results confirmed he had H1N1 virus.
The first confirmed H1N1 flu-related death was that of a Fairbanks woman with underlying health problems who died in Washington state in July.
Funk urges everyone to get traditional flu shots, wash their hands often, cough into their sleeve and stay home at the first sign of flu symptoms, which include fever, sore throat, cough and other respiratory ailments.
People with chronic health problems should touch base with their medical provider. Others should monitor their symptoms. If they start feeling worse or their fever spikes, they need to get in and see a doctor.
Funk isn?t sure of the number of H1N1 cases throughout the state. ?(H1N1) flu has been in all regions of the state for most of the summer,? she said. ?We stopped trying to count each case reported to us.
The first shipment of the H1N1 flu vaccine should hit Alaska in mid-October. It won?t be enough to cover all high-risk groups, but additional shipments are planned through November.
In the meantime, people should use sensible caution when it comes to flu avoidance procedures.
?Worry isn?t the word I would use,? Funk said. ?But I think we need to pay attention. It?s easy to forget about this when you?re out and about living your life.?
Cinthia Richie can be reached at 907... or 800..., ext. 428.
Fatal result for H1N1 in Seward
CINTHIA RITCHIE
September 17, 2009 at 1:00PM AKST
A Seward woman who died of respiratory and pre-existing medical conditions Aug. 28 became the third H1N1-flu related death in the state.
According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the middle-aged woman was admitted to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage on Aug. 15 with flu-like symptoms.
?She had symptom of cough for three or four days and a fever on the day of admission,? said state medical epidemiologist Beth Funk.
A viral sample submitted to the Alaska State virology laboratory later tested positive for H1N1 flu.
But don?t panic. While the H1N1 flu has reaped a lot of media attention, it has proved relatively mild except in rare cases.
What people do have to worry about is that traditional flu season is right around the corner.
?People might think, whew, I don?t have to worry about that. But you have to realize that the common flu can be a problem to people with pre-existing health problems,? Funk said.
Approximately 30,000 people die of influenza each year. While most of these are classified as high-risk, there also is, according to Funk, a small segment of the population that dies from traditional flu strains even without apparent underlying health problems. ?We know the flu is all throughout the state and know many people have had it who probably haven?t gone to see their doctors. And only three people have died,? Funk said.
Most will recover from H1N1 as they do the regular flu, she said. ?But some of these individuals will have this sad outcome.?
A 10-year-old Fairbanks child died from the second confirmed case of H1N1 flu the evening of Sept. 4. A school nurse sent the child home from Hunter Elementary School on Sept. 3 with flu symptoms. He was admitted to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and later transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center.
Lab results confirmed he had H1N1 virus.
The first confirmed H1N1 flu-related death was that of a Fairbanks woman with underlying health problems who died in Washington state in July.
Funk urges everyone to get traditional flu shots, wash their hands often, cough into their sleeve and stay home at the first sign of flu symptoms, which include fever, sore throat, cough and other respiratory ailments.
People with chronic health problems should touch base with their medical provider. Others should monitor their symptoms. If they start feeling worse or their fever spikes, they need to get in and see a doctor.
Funk isn?t sure of the number of H1N1 cases throughout the state. ?(H1N1) flu has been in all regions of the state for most of the summer,? she said. ?We stopped trying to count each case reported to us.
The first shipment of the H1N1 flu vaccine should hit Alaska in mid-October. It won?t be enough to cover all high-risk groups, but additional shipments are planned through November.
In the meantime, people should use sensible caution when it comes to flu avoidance procedures.
?Worry isn?t the word I would use,? Funk said. ?But I think we need to pay attention. It?s easy to forget about this when you?re out and about living your life.?
Cinthia Richie can be reached at 907... or 800..., ext. 428.