Swine flu spreading rapidly in California, health officials say
By Rong-Gong Lin II
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 15, 2009
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-swine-flu-m,0,5493315.story
The swine flu virus is spreading rapidly throughout California, public health officials said today, citing physician reports of higher-than-normal flu illnesses for this time of year.
More than 5% of patients coming into doctor’s offices are presenting flu-like symptoms, which is much higher than the usual 2%, according to an estimate based on about 50 physicians across California who monitor flu activity for the state.
“We are seeing a continued ramp-up of the virus activity,” Dr. Mark Horton, California’s public health officer, said at a news conference today. “That is very unusual for this time of year.”
Girl who died didn’t exhibit common flu symptoms but was infected with the H1N1 Virus
By Keith Darcé
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
5:34 p.m. October 15, 2009
When 5-year-old Alitza Ortiz Sanchez arrived at a local hospital emergency room last week, she wasn’t suffering from some of the most common flu symptoms, her mother said Thursday.
In fact, Sanchez had been diagnosed with a urinary infection the day before by a doctor in Tijuana. She had a persistent headache and purplish swelling around her eyes, but no fever, sore throat, cough or runny nose.
“We didn’t think it was the flu,” said her mother, Itzya Sanchez, 29.
A test conducted after Alitza arrived at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego revealed that Alitza was infected with the H1N1 virus, but the results arrived after the girl had suffered the first of what would be four heart failures.
Alitza died early Saturday.
Sanchez and Alitza’s father, Miguel Ortiz, were driving to Tijuana on Thursday afternoon for a wake. Most of their relatives live in that city.
Alitza will be buried there
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