2 more die of swine flu in Dallas County; Aubrey ISD cancels classes

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1ee98f112.html

2 more die of swine flu in Dallas County; Aubrey ISD cancels classes 2:53 PM CT

03:01 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 6, 2009

From Staff Reports

Two more people have died of the swine flu in Dallas County, health officials said today.

The latest victims -- an 11-year-old boy and a 63-year-old woman -- both had underlying medical conditions, according to Dallas County Health and Human Services officials. They both died within the past week.

They are the eighth and ninth confirmed swine flu-related deaths. Health officials declined to provide further details on the victims, citing patient privacy.

On Monday, the county announced that a 25-year-old and a 35-year-old woman had died from the swine flu. They also had underlying medical conditions.

As the death toll from the flu continues to rise, Aubrey ISD in Denton announced that it would close its schools for the remainder of the week due to a high number of absences.

According to a letter posted on the school district's Web site, the superintendent James Monaco wrote, "During the closing, all facilities will be sanitized. While there has been a significant increase in the number of students out sick, there have been minimal confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu at the school."

[Pathfinder]

Re: 2 more die of swine flu in Dallas County; Aubrey ISD cancels classes

Denton announces plan to distribute swine flu vaccine

01:25 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 7, 2009
By KRISTY CHU / The Dallas Morning News

As the number of swine flu-related deaths continues to increase, local health departments are receiving their first batches of vaccines to combat the spread of the virus.

Denton County health officials said this morning they have received 200 doses of the swine flu nasal mist this week.

Emergency room staffers at the four largest hospitals in Denton County will receive 160 doses. The remaining 40 will be available for front line Denton County Health Department staff members.

"We believe this strategy will serve all of Denton County well," the Denton County Health Department said in a news release. "By protecting essential emergency room staff, we are helping to assure optimal emergency health care services for H1N1 cases, as well as other emergencies."

Additional shipments of the swine flu vaccine are expected to arrive in Denton County in the next few days to physicians, pharmacies and other providers in addition to the Health Department, officials said.

Aubrey ISD students in Denton have the day off today after the district canceled classes due to a high number of absences. Classes are expected to resume Tuesday.

A teaching assistant at an elementary school died from possible swine flu complications, the Weatherford school district said Tuesday.

Angela Ward, 43, who worked with special-needs students at Mary Martin Elementary School, became sick last week and died Monday, Weatherford ISD officials said. Tests indicate she had pneumonia and Type A influenza.

"Our hearts go out to the Ward family in the devastating loss of their wife, mother and family member," said Weatherford ISD's superintendent Deborah Cron. "She will be missed by the children she served, the staff she worked with, and the families of the Martin community."

More tests are being run to determine whether Ward had the swine flu, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

There have been nine swine flu-related deaths in Dallas County so far. On Tuesday, Dallas County announced two more swine flu-related deaths ? an 11-year-old boy and a 63-year-old woman. Both had underlying medical conditions.

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