2 Blount County residents die from swine flu this week

[Treyfish]

<SMALL>By Joel Davis
of The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: September 15. 2009 11:07AM
Last modified: September 15. 2009 11:08AM </SMALL>


A 73-year-old Blount County resident has died from the swine flu.

The Tennessee Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday that the death was related to the H1N1 flu virus but was unable to provide further details about the victim.

?We have received word of one adult flu death in Blount County,? said Shelly Walker, TDH spokeswoman. ?It occurred on Sept. 4.?

Although the death has been attributed to the H1N1 virus, it does not mean increased danger for county residents.

?The fact we?ve had a few deaths (in the state) doesn?t indicate that the virus has become any more severe,? Walker said.
?We see deaths from flu in Tennessee every year. It?s no reason to panic. It?s certainly unfortunate, but it doesn?t indicate the virus has become any worse.?

There were no further details available about the death, including whether the death occurred in Blount County or elsewhere.

?As a rule, adult deaths from any kind of flu aren?t reported to us,? Walker said. ?In other words, providers don?t have to tell the department of health . We do learn occasionally of such a case.?

The Blount County Health Department will be offering vaccine for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus when it becomes available. This vaccine is now being manufactured and tested in a manner similar to that of seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine available now is not effective against the H1N1 virus and both kinds of flu are expected to circulate this year.

?We are still expecting October,? Walker said. ?We don?t have a hard date, but they are telling us mid-October. We will share that information as soon as we get it.?

Influenza is a disease that kills about 36,000 people in the United States per year. On average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of flu include fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.http://www.thedailytimes.com/article...KING/909159998

[Niko]

2 nd Blount County resident dies from swine flu

Blount Co. mother mourns death of son, suspects H1N1

Posted: <script type="text/javascript"> wnRenderDate('Friday, September 18, 2009 5:41 PM EST', '', true); </script>Sep 18, 2009 5:41 PM EDT <noscript>Friday, September 18, 2009 5:41 PM EST</noscript><!--END wnDate-->
<!--END WNStoryHeader--> Robert "Bobby" Bean

By ANN KEIL
6 News Reporter
MARYVILLE (WATE) -- Family members of a Blount County man believe he might be the second person in the county to die from the H1N1 flu virus.
"As a family, we're totally devastated," says Betty Bean.

She's still coming to grips with the loss of her son, Robert "Bobby" Bean, who died Wednesday of complications from flu and viral pneumonia at Blount Memorial Hospital. Bean would have turned 44 in two days.

"We don't have any answers as of right now as to if it was H1N1. We sort of think it was because it was so swift," Betty says. She says her son's death puzzled doctors. He was a healthy and strong man with a big heart.

A man who touched so many lives and went out of his way to help those less fortunate, she adds. "He was always buying food for people, paying for groceries and paying for their electric bill if they needed it," Betty says.

As for the people like Don Gibson who knew Robert Bean well, he says the loss is immeasurable.

Gibson worked beside his friend for nearly 18 years at Smith Mortuary, and he's dedicated to keeping the last memory of Robert Bean close to his heart.

"That was the last thing he said to us both. I love you. I love you all, and he meant it. That was the type of person he was," Gibson says.

"Robert's message, if he was here today, would be to make all the sweet memories you can," Betty says.

She has agreed to an autopsy, hoping to understand how her son was taken so suddenly.

She hopes those answers may save someone else's life. "The reason we agreed, the main reason, was so that no one would have to go through what we have," Betty says.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blount County Ministry for Housing Homeless Children & their Families.

Checks should be made payable to: Family Promise of Blount County, P.O. Box 4457, Maryville, TN 37802.

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=11158667

[Shiloh]

Re: 2 Blount County residents die from swine flu this week

Source: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kno...&pid=133021608


BEAN, ROBERT CHARLES "BOBBY" - age 43, of Maryville, passed away suddenly, Wednesday, September 16, 2009 of complications from flu and viral pneumonia. He graduated from Heritage High School in 1984. He graduated with Outstanding Scholastic Achievement from Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service in Atlanta, GA in 1989. He worked for 18 years at Smith Mortuary and then at Jeffers Funeral home in Greenville, TN. He had a passionate love for the Lord, his family, his church family, and his friends. Preceded in death by: wife, Jennifer Lowe Bean; grandparents, Zelma Austin Bean and John L. Bean. Survivors include: mother, Betty Linkous Bean; Father, Charles E. Bean; brother & Sister-in-law, Alan & Lawana Bean; sister & brother-in-law, Angie & Lynn Bolton; sister & brother-in-law, Becky & Ronnie Gray; brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Dexter & Dana Lowe; mother-in-law, Jean Lowe; grandparents, John & Vivian Linkous Sr.; special grandmother by the heart, Lillian Gamble; nieces and nephews (his special playing buddies) include, Katie Bean, Candace Bolton, Grayson Bolton, Lily Gray, Holly Gray, Zachary Lowe, Jessica Johnson, Isaac Johnson, Sarah Rich and husband Grady Rich; Aunts, Mary Daniel & husband J.I., Susan Munsey & husband Jerry, Karen Carter & husband Benny, Becky Bledsoe, Sherri Trentham & husband Ron; uncle, John Linkous & wife Beverly; many cousins and all his many, many special friends including Carl Long & Fred Clark. Funeral service will be at 4:00 PM, Sunday, September 20, 2009 at Smith West Chapel with Rev. Joe Colquitt and Dr. Evan Butcher officiating. Entombment will follow at Grandview Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Blount County Ministry for Housing Homeless Children & their Families. Checks should be made payable to: Family Promise of Blount County, PO Box 4457, Maryville, TN 37802. Family will receive friends from 2:00 until 4:00 PM, Sunday, September 20, 2009 at Smith West Chapel. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.smithmortuary.com.

Published in Knoxville News Sentinel from September 18 to September 19, 200