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Chesco woman dies from H1N1
Published: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
By Eric S. Smith, Journal Register News Service
The H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, has claimed its first life in Chester County, according to county health officials.
A female county resident died in a Philadelphia hospital last week due to complications with the H1N1 virus, said county Public Information Officer Rebecca Brain. The victim had multiple underlying health issues, Brain said, but no other information ? including her name, age and address ? could be provided because of hospital-patient privacy laws.
The state Department of Health Web site reports there have been 49 H1N1 deaths across the state, but this is the first in the county. The county has had 340 confirmed cases of the swine flu, and there have been 10,499 confirmed cases statewide.
The county Health Department provided more than 5,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine last week to residents but has since suspended vaccinations after using up its allotment.
According to the department's Web site, inventory of the vaccine is being taken statewide and it may become available again to health clinics soon.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Web site www.chesco.org/health for updates. Residents can also sign up for e-mail updates from the health department on its Web site.
The county had been handing out the vaccine to residents classified as Tier 1 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tier 1 people are considered most at risk by the CDC.
The CDC classifies Tier 1 people as pregnant women, caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, people 6 months through 24 years old, and people age 25 to 64 who have underlying health conditions, such as cancer and weakened immune systems, who are associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza, county officials said.
The health deparetment has not said whether the next batch of vaccines will be available to just Tier 1 residents or open to all residents.
County health officials said people should take the following steps to prevent the spread of H1N1:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
If a tissue is unavailable, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone without the use of a fever-reducing drug.
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Published: Tuesday, December 1, 2009
By Eric S. Smith, Journal Register News Service
The H1N1 virus, known as swine flu, has claimed its first life in Chester County, according to county health officials.
A female county resident died in a Philadelphia hospital last week due to complications with the H1N1 virus, said county Public Information Officer Rebecca Brain. The victim had multiple underlying health issues, Brain said, but no other information ? including her name, age and address ? could be provided because of hospital-patient privacy laws.
The state Department of Health Web site reports there have been 49 H1N1 deaths across the state, but this is the first in the county. The county has had 340 confirmed cases of the swine flu, and there have been 10,499 confirmed cases statewide.
The county Health Department provided more than 5,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine last week to residents but has since suspended vaccinations after using up its allotment.
According to the department's Web site, inventory of the vaccine is being taken statewide and it may become available again to health clinics soon.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Web site www.chesco.org/health for updates. Residents can also sign up for e-mail updates from the health department on its Web site.
The county had been handing out the vaccine to residents classified as Tier 1 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tier 1 people are considered most at risk by the CDC.
The CDC classifies Tier 1 people as pregnant women, caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, people 6 months through 24 years old, and people age 25 to 64 who have underlying health conditions, such as cancer and weakened immune systems, who are associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza, county officials said.
The health deparetment has not said whether the next batch of vaccines will be available to just Tier 1 residents or open to all residents.
County health officials said people should take the following steps to prevent the spread of H1N1:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
If a tissue is unavailable, cough or sneeze into your bent elbow.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever has gone without the use of a fever-reducing drug.
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