Local News ? November 11, 2009 - 3:00am
The Ontario County Public Heath Department said Tuesday that laboratory testing has linked the deaths of two area adults to H1N1 flu.
Meanwhile, it was announced Tuesday that in Monroe County, a total of 20,000 doses for mass inoculations will be divided among five sites each on Nov. 19 and 21.
The adults who died in Ontario County had no known underlying medical conditions, the health department said.
Further details about the victims were not released. By law, the department cannot release such identifying information.
?Every death is a tragedy, and our sincere condolences are extended to all family members at this difficult time,? Mary Beer, director of the health department, said.
Last week, Genesee County health officials confirmed a child had died from the illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that at least 129 children nationwide have died as a result of H1N1 since April. There have been no confirmed H1N1 flu deaths in Monroe County, said Department of Health Director Dr. Andrew Doniger.
According to the state health department, through Oct. 31, there have been 38 H1N1-associated deaths reported in New York state (outside of New York City) since April 24.
?Most people with the flu continue to have mild to moderate symptoms and recover at home without medical treatment,? Beer said. ?Sadly, as with ordinary seasonal flu, the H1N1 flu can, and occasionally does, cause serious illness and death.?
Medical facilities across the region, including Thompson Health in Canandaigua, have implemented restrictions on visitors in response to outbreaks of H1N1.
In late October, Thompson said visitors 18 and younger would be prohibited from F.F. Thompson Hospital, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center and Clark Meadows. The restrictions also apply to adults who have a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Flu clinics
Earlier Tuesday, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Doniger made the announcement about the flu clinics.
The clinics will be for people in the highest-risk groups: pregnant women, children ages 6 months to 24 years, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months, adults from 25 to 64 who have a chronic condition, and health care and emergency medical personnel.
The clinics are free and do not require medical insurance. The $15 cost of each shot is covered by the county, which will be reimbursed by the state, according to Doniger.
Doniger said his office debated whether to hold clinics with a very limited amount of vaccine, or wait until more people in the risk group could be accommodated.
?We didn?t want to have one clinic for one evening. That would be a busy clinic,? he said. Having people stand in line for a long time, only to be turned away, might only add to frustration.
Doniger said the county is planning clinics in December or January for people at lower risk, such as healthy adults or people older than 65. He said that the county expects 20,000 to 30,000 doses to arrive weekly, but didn?t want to schedule clinics and then have to cancel.
The 20,000 doses to be given next week will barely make a dent in the high-risk group. Doniger said 400,000 people in Monroe County fall into the top-priority group.
Doniger said he hoped that only residents in the highest priority group will come to the clinics. Those attending will not be asked for proof of residency or whether they have a chronic condition.
Doniger said that H1N1 cases have been rising over the past two weeks, but the wave might be cresting. He added that another upswing in the illness in January or February could occur, and that seasonal flu has yet to make its appearance.
Tuesday evening, Doniger said people should follow previously issued advice such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs.
The Ontario County Public Heath Department said Tuesday that laboratory testing has linked the deaths of two area adults to H1N1 flu.
Meanwhile, it was announced Tuesday that in Monroe County, a total of 20,000 doses for mass inoculations will be divided among five sites each on Nov. 19 and 21.
The adults who died in Ontario County had no known underlying medical conditions, the health department said.
Further details about the victims were not released. By law, the department cannot release such identifying information.
?Every death is a tragedy, and our sincere condolences are extended to all family members at this difficult time,? Mary Beer, director of the health department, said.
Last week, Genesee County health officials confirmed a child had died from the illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that at least 129 children nationwide have died as a result of H1N1 since April. There have been no confirmed H1N1 flu deaths in Monroe County, said Department of Health Director Dr. Andrew Doniger.
According to the state health department, through Oct. 31, there have been 38 H1N1-associated deaths reported in New York state (outside of New York City) since April 24.
?Most people with the flu continue to have mild to moderate symptoms and recover at home without medical treatment,? Beer said. ?Sadly, as with ordinary seasonal flu, the H1N1 flu can, and occasionally does, cause serious illness and death.?
Medical facilities across the region, including Thompson Health in Canandaigua, have implemented restrictions on visitors in response to outbreaks of H1N1.
In late October, Thompson said visitors 18 and younger would be prohibited from F.F. Thompson Hospital, M.M. Ewing Continuing Care Center and Clark Meadows. The restrictions also apply to adults who have a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Flu clinics
Earlier Tuesday, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Doniger made the announcement about the flu clinics.
The clinics will be for people in the highest-risk groups: pregnant women, children ages 6 months to 24 years, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months, adults from 25 to 64 who have a chronic condition, and health care and emergency medical personnel.
The clinics are free and do not require medical insurance. The $15 cost of each shot is covered by the county, which will be reimbursed by the state, according to Doniger.
Doniger said his office debated whether to hold clinics with a very limited amount of vaccine, or wait until more people in the risk group could be accommodated.
?We didn?t want to have one clinic for one evening. That would be a busy clinic,? he said. Having people stand in line for a long time, only to be turned away, might only add to frustration.
Doniger said the county is planning clinics in December or January for people at lower risk, such as healthy adults or people older than 65. He said that the county expects 20,000 to 30,000 doses to arrive weekly, but didn?t want to schedule clinics and then have to cancel.
The 20,000 doses to be given next week will barely make a dent in the high-risk group. Doniger said 400,000 people in Monroe County fall into the top-priority group.
Doniger said he hoped that only residents in the highest priority group will come to the clinics. Those attending will not be asked for proof of residency or whether they have a chronic condition.
Doniger said that H1N1 cases have been rising over the past two weeks, but the wave might be cresting. He added that another upswing in the illness in January or February could occur, and that seasonal flu has yet to make its appearance.
Tuesday evening, Doniger said people should follow previously issued advice such as frequent hand-washing and covering coughs.
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