First Muskegon Co. H1N1 death reported

[Ronan Kelly]

First Muskegon Co. H1N1 death reported

Mon, Nov 23, 2009

MUSKEGON ? Health officials reported the first death due to the H1N1 flu virus in Muskegon County this morning.

Doctors at Mercy Health Partner's Hackley Campus say a 43-year-old woman has died after contracting the virus. The woman had other chronic health conditions, officials said.

-snip-

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/295955955323919.bsp

[Tonka]

Re: First Muskegon Co. H1N1 death reported

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/11/update_woman_43_dies_from_h1n1.html

Update: Woman, 43, dies from H1N1 flu virus complications

By Chad D. Lerch | Muskegon Chronicle
November 23, 2009, 11:06PM

MUSKEGON COUNTY ? Health officials have confirmed the first death in Muskegon County caused by complications brought on by the H1N1 virus.

A 43-year-old Muskegon County woman, whose name was not released, was admitted to the Mercy Health Partners? Hackley Campus emergency room Nov. 5.

She remained in the intensive care unit until Saturday when she died from complications, likely pneumonia, officials from Public Health-Muskegon County said Monday.

An official death report had not been completed Monday afternoon.

There have been more than 300 confirmed cases of H1N1 in Muskegon County since mid-October. During that time, there also have been more than 10,000 reported cases of flu-like symptoms in the county, health department records show.

Michigan health officials said 54 in the state have died of influenza since April 1.

Patients with flu-like symptoms are not tested for H1N1 unless they are hospitalized. Health officials estimate 95 percent of current influenza cases are H1N1.

The victim had numerous chronic health conditions that made her vulnerable to the virus and secondary infections like pneumonia, said Ken Kraus, director of Public Health-Muskegon County.

The woman?s death should serve as a reminder that the H1N1 virus is a threat to public health, especially for people with underlying health conditions like asthma, cancer and compromised immune systems, officials said.

?This woman would still be alive if it wasn?t for H1N1,? said Jill Montgomery-Keast, a spokeswoman for Public Health-Muskegon County.

Reports of flu-like symptoms are on the decline in Muskegon County after a busy October.

But officials with Public Health-Muskegon County say residents should continue to take precautions ? especially if they are in a high-risk group such as pregnant women, children and people with underlying health conditions.

?If you are in a high-risk group for developing complications from the flu, get vaccinated,? said Kraus. ?A number of health care providers in the county are now able to offer H1N1 flu vaccinations to people that are within priority groups.

?We urge the public to contact their doctor for information on where and when to get the vaccine.?

The H1N1 virus emerged in Mexico last spring and sent health officials on a mission to inform residents worldwide about risks. Officials say H1N1 is a new influenza strain, which means most humans have no built-up immunity to fight it.

According to flucount.org, 678 H1N1 deaths worldwide were confirmed the week of Nov. 16.

E-mail Chad D. Lerch at clerch@muskegonchronicle.com