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Source: http://www.kget.com/news/local/story...B9F2U1sUw.cspx
New Kern H1N1 death; New clinic scheduled Friday
Last Update: 12:29 pm
A 47-year-old Bakersfield woman has died of complications of the H1N1 Flu, the county health director announced Thursday. She becomes the ninth local fatality associated with the virus, also known as the Swine Flu.
Several hundred more doses of the nasal H1N1 vaccination will be available to the public Friday afternoon, the health department also announced Thursay. The medicine will be distributed on a first-come basis and is free.
Health Director Matt Constantine refused to identify the woman who died, citing privacy laws. He said she had underlying health problems, but he refused to specifically identify her illnesses.
On Wednesday, a health department spokesperson said "underlying health problems" has been defined to include heart disease, lung disease, immune deficiency, diabetes, asthma, obesity and even pregnancy.
"In the case of underlying conditions, we?re concerned about other illnesses that reduce the ability of the person?s immune system to respond effectively to the virus that is attacking their system," Constantine said Thursday.
The other Kern victims include three women and five were men. They ranged in age from 25 to 54, with the average age of 41. All had underlying medical conditions, spokesperson Kim Rodriguez said
There is still no word on when the H1N1 shot will be available in Kern.
Constantine said Thursday the department has received several hundred doses of the spray, which is injected through a person?s nose. It?s a different kind of medicine than the kind of vaccination that's given in shots. The nasal spray can't be given to people who already are sick, or to women who are pregnant.
Some of those new nasal doses will be distributed Thursday evening to people who were turned away when a clinic ran out of the vaccine on Oct. 10. Everyone eligible for that "turn-away" clinic has been notified, said Rodriguez, the health department spokesperson.
On Friday, the remaining doses of nasal spray will be distributed from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Coronado Baptist Church, 516 Norris Road, next to the Oildale Veterans Hall.
The spray is meant for healthy people between 2 and 18 years old. It can?t be given to people who already are sick or women who are pregnant. It?s also meant for people who are caregivers to babies under 6 months old, or who live with a baby, who are 2 to 47 years old, not already sick and not pregnant.
The county?s Swine Flu Hotline is 1-877-81VIRUS. Information is available at Public Health's web site, www.co.kern.ca.us/health
Public Health?s constant reminder is: The best ways to best protect your family and yourself is to follow the three "C's" of disease prevention:
* Cover your cough
* Clean your hands
* Confine sick people at home
New Kern H1N1 death; New clinic scheduled Friday
Last Update: 12:29 pm
A 47-year-old Bakersfield woman has died of complications of the H1N1 Flu, the county health director announced Thursday. She becomes the ninth local fatality associated with the virus, also known as the Swine Flu.
Several hundred more doses of the nasal H1N1 vaccination will be available to the public Friday afternoon, the health department also announced Thursay. The medicine will be distributed on a first-come basis and is free.
Health Director Matt Constantine refused to identify the woman who died, citing privacy laws. He said she had underlying health problems, but he refused to specifically identify her illnesses.
On Wednesday, a health department spokesperson said "underlying health problems" has been defined to include heart disease, lung disease, immune deficiency, diabetes, asthma, obesity and even pregnancy.
"In the case of underlying conditions, we?re concerned about other illnesses that reduce the ability of the person?s immune system to respond effectively to the virus that is attacking their system," Constantine said Thursday.
The other Kern victims include three women and five were men. They ranged in age from 25 to 54, with the average age of 41. All had underlying medical conditions, spokesperson Kim Rodriguez said
There is still no word on when the H1N1 shot will be available in Kern.
Constantine said Thursday the department has received several hundred doses of the spray, which is injected through a person?s nose. It?s a different kind of medicine than the kind of vaccination that's given in shots. The nasal spray can't be given to people who already are sick, or to women who are pregnant.
Some of those new nasal doses will be distributed Thursday evening to people who were turned away when a clinic ran out of the vaccine on Oct. 10. Everyone eligible for that "turn-away" clinic has been notified, said Rodriguez, the health department spokesperson.
On Friday, the remaining doses of nasal spray will be distributed from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Coronado Baptist Church, 516 Norris Road, next to the Oildale Veterans Hall.
The spray is meant for healthy people between 2 and 18 years old. It can?t be given to people who already are sick or women who are pregnant. It?s also meant for people who are caregivers to babies under 6 months old, or who live with a baby, who are 2 to 47 years old, not already sick and not pregnant.
The county?s Swine Flu Hotline is 1-877-81VIRUS. Information is available at Public Health's web site, www.co.kern.ca.us/health
Public Health?s constant reminder is: The best ways to best protect your family and yourself is to follow the three "C's" of disease prevention:
* Cover your cough
* Clean your hands
* Confine sick people at home