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Source: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_13160009
Fifth swine flu death in county; 206 confirmed cases
By Stacia Glenn
Posted: 08/19/2009 11:16:22 AM PDT
A fifth San Bernardino County resident has died of the H1N1 virus, and public health officials say 206 others are infected by the virus commonly known as swine flu.
The latest victim was a 50-year-old woman who had several pre-existing medical conditions. Her date of death and city of residence were not released.
"We would like to convey our deepest condolences to the family", said county Public Health Officer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, "H1N1 is widespread and among us, everyone should remain vigilant in helping prevent the spread of this virus."
He said most of the 206 local cases have been mild or moderate cases, yet 32 residents are hospitalized.
There is currently no vaccine against the H1N1 virus but Ohikhuare said it is in production and should be available by late fall.
In the meantime, people are encouraged to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, wash their hands frequently, and avoid toughing their eyes, noses and mouths.
For more information on seasonal flu vaccination, contact (800) 782-4264.
Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/s...0.3739727.html
Two new swine-flu related deaths bring San Bernardino County total to five
10:39 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
By LORA HINES
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: Swine Flu
The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported two more swine-flu related deaths, bringing the county's total to five since the international outbreak of the virus began in the spring.
A 50-year-old woman and a man in his 20s died earlier this month after they had been hospitalized. They were not related.
County Public Health Office Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare wouldn't say where the people lived or at which hospitals they had been treated. Both suffered from multiple health problems, which may have increased their risks for contracting the virus, also known as the H1N1 virus, and dying, he said.
In June, San Bernardino County reported one of California's first swine flu-related deaths -- a man in his 40s who died at his home. The county's two other swine-flu related deaths, both reported this month, occurred in hospitals, Ohikhuare said. One was that of a 44-year-old man. The other was a teenage boy.
They also suffered from multiple health problems, Ohikhuare said without elaborating.
"I would be very worried if these deaths would be happening in healthy people," he said. "We knew we were going to have some deaths associated with the H1N1 virus, just like we do with seasonal flu. About 36,000 people a year die from seasonal flu."
The California Department of Public Health's most recent records show that 104 people statewide have died from swine flu-like illnesses and 1,057 have been hospitalized.
At least seven other counties across the state have reported more swine flu-related deaths than San Bernardino County. San Diego and Los Angeles counties each have reported 15, with Orange County reporting 12.
In Northern California, Alameda County has reported eight deaths. San Mateo has had seven, followed by Contra Costa and San Francisco counties each with six.
So far, Riverside County has reported one death -- a man who died in July while he was out of town, health officials said.
Nationwide, 477 people have died from swine flu-like illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. More than 7,500 people have been hospitalized.
Federal health officials today are to discuss recommendations for universities to limit the spread of swine flu and seasonal flu on campuses this fall. On Wednesday, the CDC reminded employers that they could face widespread absences because of swine flu, on top of this year's seasonal flu, which typically starts in October.
In a written statement, the agency stated that it "anticipates that more communities may be affected than were in the spring and summer 2009, and more severely affected, reflecting wider transmission and possibly greater impact."
Seasonal flu viruses may cause illness at the same time as 2009 swine flu in the fall and winter, according to the CDC.
"The severity of illness that 2009 H1N1 influenza flu will cause, including hospitalizations and deaths, or the amount of illness that may occur as a result of seasonal influenza during the 2009-10 influenza season cannot be predicted with a high degree of certainty," the agency said.
Flexibility encouraged
"Employers should plan to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and be prepared to refine their pandemic influenza response plans if a potentially more serious outbreak of influenza evolves during the fall and winter," the CDC wrote.
Earlier this week, county health officials said they would work with schools this fall to provide on-campus swine flu vaccination clinics as soon as they receive the vaccine. The vaccine is to be distributed to local health clinics between mid-September and mid-October.
Barbara Cole, the Riverside County Department of Health's disease control director, said health officials will contact school districts, doctors and medical clinics after organizing an immunization plan. The department has worked with school districts to administer seasonal flu vaccines.
Until a vaccine becomes available, Ohikhuare said people should thoroughly wash their hands and properly cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze to prevent spread of the swine flu virus. He suggests everyone get vaccinated for seasonal flu.
"People should be vigilant," Ohikhuare said. "People should realize the virus is still active out there. They should continue to protect themselves."
Reach Lora Hines at 951-368-9444 or lhines@PE.com
Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty...7.45e0331.html
San Bernardino County suffers second swine flu-related death
11:05 PM PDT on Thursday, August 6, 2009
By SONJA BJELLAND
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: Swine Flu
San Bernardino County reported its second death from the swine flu virus Thursday, and 48 inmates at the West Valley Detention Center have been quarantined.
The 44-year-old man died July 23, said Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, the county public health officer.
He would not identify the man, where he was from or whether he had been hospitalized...
Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/s...4.405f345.html
Swine flu claims third S.B. County victim
06:30 AM PDT on Friday, August 14, 2009
By JOHN F. HILL
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: Swine Flu
San Bernardino County has had its third swine flu death, according to state health officials.
The California Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday on its Web site that a third person in the county has died from the H1N1 flu virus, while 30 people have shown symptoms.
The county's first H1N1 death, in May, was one of the state's first swine flu-related deaths. A man in his 40s with pre-existing medical conditions died at home, according to earlier reports. A second death, a 44-year-old man, occurred last month.
Fifth swine flu death in county; 206 confirmed cases
By Stacia Glenn
Posted: 08/19/2009 11:16:22 AM PDT
A fifth San Bernardino County resident has died of the H1N1 virus, and public health officials say 206 others are infected by the virus commonly known as swine flu.
The latest victim was a 50-year-old woman who had several pre-existing medical conditions. Her date of death and city of residence were not released.
"We would like to convey our deepest condolences to the family", said county Public Health Officer Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, "H1N1 is widespread and among us, everyone should remain vigilant in helping prevent the spread of this virus."
He said most of the 206 local cases have been mild or moderate cases, yet 32 residents are hospitalized.
There is currently no vaccine against the H1N1 virus but Ohikhuare said it is in production and should be available by late fall.
In the meantime, people are encouraged to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, wash their hands frequently, and avoid toughing their eyes, noses and mouths.
For more information on seasonal flu vaccination, contact (800) 782-4264.
Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/s...0.3739727.html
Two new swine-flu related deaths bring San Bernardino County total to five
10:39 PM PDT on Wednesday, August 19, 2009
By LORA HINES
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: Swine Flu
The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported two more swine-flu related deaths, bringing the county's total to five since the international outbreak of the virus began in the spring.
A 50-year-old woman and a man in his 20s died earlier this month after they had been hospitalized. They were not related.
County Public Health Office Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare wouldn't say where the people lived or at which hospitals they had been treated. Both suffered from multiple health problems, which may have increased their risks for contracting the virus, also known as the H1N1 virus, and dying, he said.
In June, San Bernardino County reported one of California's first swine flu-related deaths -- a man in his 40s who died at his home. The county's two other swine-flu related deaths, both reported this month, occurred in hospitals, Ohikhuare said. One was that of a 44-year-old man. The other was a teenage boy.
They also suffered from multiple health problems, Ohikhuare said without elaborating.
"I would be very worried if these deaths would be happening in healthy people," he said. "We knew we were going to have some deaths associated with the H1N1 virus, just like we do with seasonal flu. About 36,000 people a year die from seasonal flu."
The California Department of Public Health's most recent records show that 104 people statewide have died from swine flu-like illnesses and 1,057 have been hospitalized.
At least seven other counties across the state have reported more swine flu-related deaths than San Bernardino County. San Diego and Los Angeles counties each have reported 15, with Orange County reporting 12.
In Northern California, Alameda County has reported eight deaths. San Mateo has had seven, followed by Contra Costa and San Francisco counties each with six.
So far, Riverside County has reported one death -- a man who died in July while he was out of town, health officials said.
Nationwide, 477 people have died from swine flu-like illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. More than 7,500 people have been hospitalized.
Federal health officials today are to discuss recommendations for universities to limit the spread of swine flu and seasonal flu on campuses this fall. On Wednesday, the CDC reminded employers that they could face widespread absences because of swine flu, on top of this year's seasonal flu, which typically starts in October.
In a written statement, the agency stated that it "anticipates that more communities may be affected than were in the spring and summer 2009, and more severely affected, reflecting wider transmission and possibly greater impact."
Seasonal flu viruses may cause illness at the same time as 2009 swine flu in the fall and winter, according to the CDC.
"The severity of illness that 2009 H1N1 influenza flu will cause, including hospitalizations and deaths, or the amount of illness that may occur as a result of seasonal influenza during the 2009-10 influenza season cannot be predicted with a high degree of certainty," the agency said.
Flexibility encouraged
"Employers should plan to be able to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of severity and be prepared to refine their pandemic influenza response plans if a potentially more serious outbreak of influenza evolves during the fall and winter," the CDC wrote.
Earlier this week, county health officials said they would work with schools this fall to provide on-campus swine flu vaccination clinics as soon as they receive the vaccine. The vaccine is to be distributed to local health clinics between mid-September and mid-October.
Barbara Cole, the Riverside County Department of Health's disease control director, said health officials will contact school districts, doctors and medical clinics after organizing an immunization plan. The department has worked with school districts to administer seasonal flu vaccines.
Until a vaccine becomes available, Ohikhuare said people should thoroughly wash their hands and properly cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze to prevent spread of the swine flu virus. He suggests everyone get vaccinated for seasonal flu.
"People should be vigilant," Ohikhuare said. "People should realize the virus is still active out there. They should continue to protect themselves."
Reach Lora Hines at 951-368-9444 or lhines@PE.com
Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty...7.45e0331.html
San Bernardino County suffers second swine flu-related death
11:05 PM PDT on Thursday, August 6, 2009
By SONJA BJELLAND
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: Swine Flu
San Bernardino County reported its second death from the swine flu virus Thursday, and 48 inmates at the West Valley Detention Center have been quarantined.
The 44-year-old man died July 23, said Dr. Maxwell Ohikhuare, the county public health officer.
He would not identify the man, where he was from or whether he had been hospitalized...
Source: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/s...4.405f345.html
Swine flu claims third S.B. County victim
06:30 AM PDT on Friday, August 14, 2009
By JOHN F. HILL
The Press-Enterprise
Special Section: Swine Flu
San Bernardino County has had its third swine flu death, according to state health officials.
The California Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday on its Web site that a third person in the county has died from the H1N1 flu virus, while 30 people have shown symptoms.
The county's first H1N1 death, in May, was one of the state's first swine flu-related deaths. A man in his 40s with pre-existing medical conditions died at home, according to earlier reports. A second death, a 44-year-old man, occurred last month.