Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
First H1N1 death in Graham County confirmed
By Diane Saunders
Staff Writer
Published on Friday, November 13, 2009 2:49 PM MST
The Graham County Health Department confirmed Nov. 13 that a 26-year-old Gila Valley resident who had an H1N1-related illness died Nov. 5 at the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center.
Brittany Michele Ferrin, 26, of Pima was diagnosed with streptococcus pneumonia and also tested positive for H1N1, according to her mother, Robyn Ferrin.
Her death is the first H1N1-related death in Graham County, according to Neil Karnes, director of the Graham County Health Department.
Karnes also said the Arizona Department of Health Services described this case as an "H1N1-related death" because of a laboratory confirmation of H1N1.
H1N1, also known as swine flu, is a new influenza virus causing illness in people around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009, and it is spread from person-to-person in much the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Graham County is experiencing an outbreak of influenza illness, and most of this illness is presumed to be caused by the H1N1 virus, according to Karnes. Since Oct. 4, there have been 15 lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 reported in Graham County.
Another 458 cases appear to be Type A flu that are presumed to be H1N1.
"In Arizona, 99.7 percent of all tested influenza is H1N1," Karnes said.
His news release also states that most people contracting H1N1 have experienced "less severe symptoms" and do not require hospitalization. In addition, antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu and Relenza can shorten the duration and severity of the illness if prescribed and administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
The Graham County Health Department, the hospital and several local physician clinics are able to vaccinate people against the disease. The priority groups include pregnant women, health care workers, caregivers for infants younger than 6 months old, children from 6 months through 18 years old, young adults19-24 and adults 24-64 with chronic medical conditions.
The County Health Department vaccination clinics are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
"At this point over 2,500 people have received the H1N1 vaccination in Graham County," Karnes said.
http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/11/13/news/breaking_news/doc4afdd37e24514988793009.txt
By Diane Saunders
Staff Writer
Published on Friday, November 13, 2009 2:49 PM MST
The Graham County Health Department confirmed Nov. 13 that a 26-year-old Gila Valley resident who had an H1N1-related illness died Nov. 5 at the Mount Graham Regional Medical Center.
Brittany Michele Ferrin, 26, of Pima was diagnosed with streptococcus pneumonia and also tested positive for H1N1, according to her mother, Robyn Ferrin.
Her death is the first H1N1-related death in Graham County, according to Neil Karnes, director of the Graham County Health Department.
Karnes also said the Arizona Department of Health Services described this case as an "H1N1-related death" because of a laboratory confirmation of H1N1.
H1N1, also known as swine flu, is a new influenza virus causing illness in people around the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control. This virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009, and it is spread from person-to-person in much the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Graham County is experiencing an outbreak of influenza illness, and most of this illness is presumed to be caused by the H1N1 virus, according to Karnes. Since Oct. 4, there have been 15 lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 reported in Graham County.
Another 458 cases appear to be Type A flu that are presumed to be H1N1.
"In Arizona, 99.7 percent of all tested influenza is H1N1," Karnes said.
His news release also states that most people contracting H1N1 have experienced "less severe symptoms" and do not require hospitalization. In addition, antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu and Relenza can shorten the duration and severity of the illness if prescribed and administered within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.
The Graham County Health Department, the hospital and several local physician clinics are able to vaccinate people against the disease. The priority groups include pregnant women, health care workers, caregivers for infants younger than 6 months old, children from 6 months through 18 years old, young adults19-24 and adults 24-64 with chronic medical conditions.
The County Health Department vaccination clinics are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
"At this point over 2,500 people have received the H1N1 vaccination in Graham County," Karnes said.
http://www.eacourier.com/articles/2009/11/13/news/breaking_news/doc4afdd37e24514988793009.txt