6 more dead from H1N1 in Michigan

[Ronan Kelly]

6 more dead from H1N1 in Michigan
Kim Kozlowski / The Detroit News
Six more people have died as a result of H1N1, state health departments said today.

Health department officials reported 16 deaths earlier this week, but reported a total of 22 today.

The H1N1 virus is rampant in Michigan.

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Since Sept. 1, there have been 177,839 reported cases of flu-like symptoms -- which is nearly three times the 58,504 cases reported last year at this time. Last week alone, 60,000 cases were reported -- which is nearly a third of the 177,839 cases reported so far.

There also have been 16 deaths, including five in Metro Detroit, since Sept. 1. Compared to last year at this time, no deaths had been linked to the flu.

State health officials say that 99 percent of the flu-like illnesses being reported are swine flu. This is based on specimens that were sent into the state lab by 93 sentinel physicians. In October, 342 specimens were reported as H1N1. One was reported as influenza B, and five were unable to be subtyped.

School closings also continue across the state, but so far only a few have closed in Metro Detroit. Two schools are currently closed in Oakland County, and one school each has closed in Wayne and Macomb counties.

kkozlowski@detnews.com (313) 222-2024

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091105/LIFESTYLE03/911050460/1361/6-more-dead-from-H1N1-in-Michigan

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: 6 more dead from H1N1 in Michigan

6-month-old Michigan child dies of H1N1, state's flu death toll reaches 32 since April
By Nardy Baeza Bickel | The Grand Rapids Pr...
November 05, 2009, 7:37PM

Grand Rapids Press File PhotoA syringe is filled with a dose of the H1N1 flu vaccine at Saint Mary's Hospital.A 6-month-old child is the state's first pediatric swine flu-related death, health officials said Thursday.

The Michigan Department of Community Health received reports this week of six H1N1-related deaths, bringing the total for this flu season to 22. Since April, 32 people have died of swine flu-related causes in the state.

Department representatives declined to say in what counties the deaths occurred, or release details.

Last week, 53,157 flu-like illnesses were reported to the department, making 189,956 cases since Sept. 1. So far, 656 people have been hospitalized with flu-related illnesses.

The state has received 1.2 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine and has ordered another 948,200 doses.

"In time, we will be able to meet the demand," said Gregory Holzman, the department's chief medical executive. "The demand is greater than the supply, but the number of vaccines allocated and ordered has gone up each day, and each week we're getting more vaccine in the state."

To date, Kent County has received 52,500 doses, and 17,800 have gone to local physicians for their high-risk patients. Ottawa County has received 18,500 doses and expects another 8,100 soon.

Kent County set up vaccination clinics for priority groups that will run the next three Saturdays.

Those who want the vaccine and meet priority guidelines -- people ages 6 months to 24 years, pregnant women, caregivers for children younger than 6 months, and people ages 25 to 64 with underlying health conditions -- still can sign up for the Nov. 14 and Nov. 21 clinics, but this Saturday's clinic is almost full, said Bridie Bereza, spokeswoman for the county's Health Department. For appointments, call 2-1-1 or 459-2255.

On Thursday, 46 schools were closed because of illness. Since the start of the academic year, 492 have closed and reopened because of illnesses.

Bill Anstey, deputy administrative health officer for the Kent County Health Department, has said flu-related absences from school had decreased from 6.5 percent this week to 4.6 percent last week.

Officials estimate that about 1,200 people in Michigan die of flu-related causes each year, although those cases are not tracked by the state.

Holzman said the swine flu's fatality rate is close to that of seasonal flu: less than 0.1 percent

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/6-month-old_child_is_michigans.html