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Swine flu suspected in Umatilla County deaths

By Drew Foster, Herald staff writer
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/751936.html

PENDLETON — Swine flu is thought to have been a factor in the death of two Umatilla County residents.

The child and middle-aged adult died Friday. Umatilla County Health Department officials declined to release the residents’ names, ages or where they lived.

But Genni Lehnert, Umatilla County Health Department administrator, said both flu victims had “serious underlying health issues,” though she wouldn’t elaborate.

Laboratory tests haven’t confirmed the people were infected with H1N1.

“I would suspect that just because of the circulating viruses, I would be confident to say this was H1N1,” Lehnert said, adding that test results should be received “in a few days.”

No deaths so far have been attributed to swine flu in Benton or Franklin counties. Heather Hill, public health nurse with the Benton-Franklin Health District, said eight swine flu cases have been confirmed in Benton and Franklin counties, although most cases are not tested.

Eight swine flu cases, not including the two deaths, have been confirmed in Umatilla County, Lehnert said. She stopped short of saying there is a swine flu outbreak in Umatilla County, but said, “We are certainly seeing an increase in influenza.”

Only hospitalized patients and deaths are being counted as confirmed swine flu cases in Umatilla County. Washington is confirming cases in people who are pregnant, hospitalized or dead.

Apparent outbreaks of flu are cropping up around the region, with the small Paterson School District in southern Benton County deciding Monday to cancel classes today and Wednesday because of the flu. It’s the first area district to have to cancel classes, though some sporting events have been canceled because of flu.

Nearly a quarter of the Paterson district’s 102 students are sick, said Superintendent Peggy Douglas. So are several of the 25 full-time and part-time staff, including the custodian and four of 10 teachers, she said.

Douglas said several of the students who were in school Monday were showing flu symptoms. Canceling classes will give people time to recover and allow staff to thoroughly disinfect the counters, desks and classrooms, she said. Classes are expected to resume Thursday.

While seasonal flu vaccinations are being given in the area, no swine flu vaccine has arrived in the Tri-Cities yet.

“I hope to see (some) in the next 24 or 48 hours,” Hill said Monday.

But Umatilla County has received its first shipment of swine flu vaccine. Lehnert said the initial doses — mostly nasal — will be sent to hospitals, pediatricians and other health care providers.

When the vaccine arrives in the Tri-Cities, Hill said it also will go to hospitals and health care providers first.

Mass public swine flu vaccinations are scheduled to begin in Umatilla County on Nov. 21 in Hermiston. No mass public vaccinations have been scheduled by the Benton-Franklin Health District because, “We can’t predict when the vaccine will arrive,” Hill said.

Both Hill and Lehnert emphasized that health care and emergency service workers, people ages 6 months to 24 years old, pregnant women and people ages 25 to 64 who have chronic health issues will be vaccinated first.

— Reporter Sara Schilling contributed to this report.
— Drew Foster: 585-7207; dfoster@tricityherald.com