WA:
King County Man Dies From H1N1 Flu
Posted: 5:12 pm PDT October 15, 2009
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21310662/detail.html
SEATTLE — A man in his 20s died Wednesday from complication of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) and his underlying health conditions, said Public Health of Seattle and King County.
The man’s death is the first reported H1N1 death in King County this fall.
“Flu activity is increasing locally, and this tragedy is a reminder that H1N1 influenza can be a very serious illness and that people with underlying health conditions are at higher risk for severe complications and death,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health.
Fleming said the vaccine is the best protection and small shipments of the vaccine are arriving for at-risk patients. More doses will be arriving weekly to immunize a wider group of people.
The vaccine is initially being prioritized to protect people most at risk for H1N1 influenza, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The priority groups include:
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
- People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
- People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
- Healthcare and emergency workers
Vaccine availability will be opened up to everyone who wants it as soon as supplies are sufficient to cover demand in risk groups.
In King County from April 25 to Oct. 2, there have been 82 hospitalizations of patients with H1N1 influenza. Nearly 1 in 4 required intensive care, and 3 of the 82 patients died.
Three Spokane County residents have also recently died from complications linked to Influenza A, and health officials say they are likely victims of the swine flu.
The dead include a man in his 40s, a woman in her 40s and a woman in her 60s. None of three had any known underlying health problems.
Canada:
Swine flu claims 8th B.C. victim
Last Updated: Thursday, October 15, 2009 | 5:18 PM PT
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/10/15/bc-swine-flu-death-ashley-miller.html
(CBC)The B.C. Centre for Disease Control has confirmed that a woman from the city of Mission is the province’s latest swine flu fatality.
The centre has declined to identify the victim of the H1N1 virus, but CBC New has learned she was Ashley Miller, 26, who died Sunday, two days after she was admitted to Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
Miller is the eighth B.C. resident to die from swine flu.
Authorities from the centre and the Fraser Health Authority are investigating Miller’s medical history to determine if she had any underlying conditions that could have contributed to her death, according the centre spokesman Roy Wadia.
The previous seven swine flu victims in B.C. all had underlying medical conditions, according to the centre.