Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1

[JimO]

Source: http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/l...yword=topstory

Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1

DANVILLE - Geisinger Medical Center has confirmed their first H1N1, or swine flu, death. The death is the first known in the valley.

Hospital officials have released no other information about the case.

According to Dr. Lisa Esolen, director of Infection Control at Geisinger, there are approximately 7,600 cases of the flu confirmed in the state, with a four percent rate of hospitalization.

Across the nation, 48 states are now reporting widespread infection.

At the Danville facility and the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, a total of about 1,300 patients were seen and treated in October for the H1N1 virus. About three to four percent required hospitalization.

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1

Swine flu kills GMC patient
Virus-related death may be Valley?s first

By Gina Morton
The Daily Item


DANVILLE ? Geisinger Medical Center on Friday reported its first swine flu death. The unidentified 24-year-old patient is believed to be the first to die from the virus in the Valley.


Hospital spokeswoman Marcy Marshall on Friday said that because of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines, the medical center could not provide additional information.

?The Geisinger family sends our thoughts and prayers to the patient?s family,? Marshall said in a statement.

?This death underscores the potential severity of the H1N1 swine-origin virus, and we recognize that this latest development does hit close to home,? Marshall said.

?As we continue to see increasing cases of H1N1 influenza, we encourage the public to contact their primary care providers and student health centers for more information on where to get vaccinated,? Marshall said. ?Vaccine production has been slow, but we do eventually expect that there will be enough for everyone. There are limited supplies, and health providers are awaiting additional doses from the Department of Health, which is judiciously allotting available supplies. ?

Dr. Lisa Esolen, director of infection control at Geisinger, said the medical center has received only a small fraction of the vaccines needed for patient and employee protection. She added that there are approximately 7,600 confirmed cases of swine flu in Pennsylvania, with a 4 percent rate of hospitalization.

The state Department of Health?s Web site shows 22 deaths from the virus. Pennsylvania is among the 48 states now reporting widespread infection.

Stacey Kriedeman, state Department of Health spokeswoman, was unable to provide additional information on the Geisinger patient because of confidentiality.

The death was not listed on the department?s Web site, but Kriedeman said the death statistics are not posted until lab samples are confirmed. The time span can vary.

?It depends on where the sample is coming from,? Kriedeman said. ?We get reports from different entities. It could be a lab, hospital, coroner. It?s difficult to say how long it could take.?

The death would then be added to the toll in the patient?s home county.

At the Danville facility and the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, about 1,300 patients were seen and treated in October for the swine flu. About 3 to 4 percent required hospitalization.

As of Friday morning, the state Department of Health showed 17 confirmed swine flu cases in Union County, 14 confirmed cases in Northumberland County, nine confirmed and two probable cases in Snyder County and six confirmed cases in Montour County.

Public vaccination sites have not yet opened. These point of distribution centers are expected to open later this month.

Geisinger?s Esolen suggested individuals receive the vaccination even if they have already had the virus. There are problems with assuming an individual doesn?t need the vaccine, she said. They might have a weak immune system and not develop full immunity; an individual may have been infected with a different influenza virus that the test could not distinguish from novel H1N1 flu; or the test may have been incorrect and presented a ?false positive? result.

http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_311083424.html

[Readymom]

Re: Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1

Geisinger/Danville is located in Montour County.

There have NOT been any deaths for PA in Montour County per the PA DOH website. So, I'm assuming this is a new death, not yet added to the PA DOH count.

This death would bring PA up to 23.

[Readymom]

Re: Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1

The above death is in LUZERNE county, PA. (It's stated in the caption under the video link):

24-year-old Man was Swine Flu Victim
http://www.wnep.com/wnep-jason-gensel-s ... 1342.story

[Readymom]

Re: Geisinger confirms death resulting from H1N1

'Aurora', PFI

It was brought to my attention that the PA DOH website has amended it's 'Luzerne' entry: Deleted that entry and put it in 'Schuylkill' County. The two counties border each other. Maybe that's why?