Florida: 109 total A/H1N1 confirmed deaths

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Source: http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/63679577.html

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PRESS RELEASE:

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention has reported that the Clinical trials for the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine for healthy adults are going well with no adverse side effects among those tested.

The Centers for Disease Control and Health and Human Services recently announced that healthy adults will require just one dose of the vaccine.

Florida Flu Information Line 1-877-352-3581

On Monday, August 24th, Florida Department of Health launched a toll-free number to provide public health information and updates on H1N1 Swine flu. The information line is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT, seven days a week. Information is available in English, Spanish and Creole.

Additional laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths have been verified in the following:

A 20-year-old female in Alachua County, a 52-year-old female in Baker County, a 24-year-old-female in Citrus County, a 49-year-old female in Miami-Dade County, a 78-year-old male in Miami-Dade County, a 53-year-old female in Hernando County, and a 15-year-old male in Volusia County. While most cases of H1N1 Swine Flu are mild, there are exceptions.

Pre-existing health conditions often play a role in how individuals react to the flu.

To-date, there have been 109 laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths in Florida.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these individuals, " said Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros. " H1N1 Swine Flu, like seasonal flu, can in some circumstances be very serious, therefore, all of us should continue to adhere to good health practices including, stay home if sick, cover cough and sneeze, and wash hands frequently."

The Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals, and other health care professionals. The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals, and our ability to monitor emergency room cases is fully operational. We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond if needed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) alert level is at Phase 6 "pandemic." The pandemic (WHO level 6) status is based on geographic distribution and not the severity of swine flu. In effect the WHO is saying that swine flu H1N1 is now circulating world-wide.

The State Surgeon General provided these recommendations:

People with respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections, including influenza, to others in the community.

-Avoid close contact with people who are coughing or otherwise appear ill.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

-Wash hands frequently to lessen the spread of respiratory illness.

People experiencing cough, fever and fatigue, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.

If you think you have influenza, please call your health care provider and discuss whether you need to be seen in their office, emergency department or stay home.

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Re: Florida: 109 total A/H1N1 confirmed deaths

Source: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/oct...lu-vacci/life/

Vaccine arriving as Bay area reports 3 new swine flu deaths
and multidose vials.

By MARY SHEDDEN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 8, 2009
Updated: 10/08/2009 11:55 am

The announcement Thursday of three Tampa Bay area swine flu deaths came just as state health officials announced they're ready to start fighting back: The first shipments of swine flu vaccines have arrived in Florida.

Health departments in Jefferson and St. John's counties received the first of more than 100,000 doses of the nasal mist swine flu vaccine on Thursday. Tampa Bay area counties will see the first of many shipments arrive between now and the coming week.

"Our early shipments will likely be small," Surgeon General Ana Viamonte Ros said.

Swine flu, also known as the H1N1 flu strain, is mostly mild in its symptoms but has been responsible for 109 deaths statewide. On Thursday, local health officials added to that total, with the announcement of the deaths of a 35-year-old Pasco County man, a 50-year-old Pinellas County woman, and a 56 year-old woman in Polk County.

The Pasco death was that county's first for swine flu; Polk has experienced four, and the Pinellas case brought its total to seven. Additional underlying medical conditions were factors in both the Polk and Pinellas deaths.

Viamonte Ros said that usually only 2 percent of emergency room visits at this time of year are flu related but that number is now 7 percent, with most cases involving people 19 and younger, she said. The deaths and hospital visits point to the importance of vaccination, she said.

Florida eventually is slated to receive 6 percent, or 15.5 million, of the estimated 259 million doses of swine flu vaccine purchased by the government.

It will come in several different forms: nasal mist, single injectable shots and multidose vials. It will take weeks to finish distributing the vaccines, which are being made by several pharmaceutical companies.

People already identified as at-risk for the new strain of influenza will be the first to be offered the voluntary vaccination.

Pregnant women, infants and people with underlying medical conditions are in this priority group, but they are discouraged from taking the nasal mist vaccine that the state has shipped. FluMist, a preservative-free vaccine, is safe for people ages 2 to 49.

Hillsborough County, which is getting about 11,000 initial doses, will focus first on colleges, universities and private physicians, spokesman Steve Huard said. Pasco expects 4,600 doses, and Pinellas has asked for more than 5,000 initial doses.

Viamonte Ros said the state is responsible for distributing the vaccines to county health departments, which are then responsible for local vaccination efforts. Most local counties are teaming up with private doctors, schools, colleges and health care centers for the voluntary vaccination program.

"They are responsible for seeing that the limited supply gets to the providers for the priority groups," Viamonte Ros said.

Many vaccinations will be administered at public schools. Also, more than 3,000 private physicians signed up with the State Department of Health to help with the massive statewide vaccination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all persons 6 months and older get the separate seasonal flu and swine flu vaccines.

The vaccines treat different types influenza and one will not protect against the other.

Seasonal flu shots are widely available at local health clinics, private doctors and retail pharmacies.

Reporter Mary Shedden can be reached at (813) 2....