-
FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website. -
We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.
First Pennsylvania death
- Thread starter wotan
- Start date
Re: First Pennsylvania death
1st Swine Flu Death In Pa. Confirmed
Posted: 9:11 am EDT June 5, 2009Updated: 9:18 am EDT June 5, 2009
<!--startindex-->HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A 55-year-old Berks County woman died from swine flu Thursday, the first death from the illness in the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said.
She had significant underlying health issues, a health department spokeswoman said.
The state has 269 confirmed cases and 101 probable cases of illness due to the virus, according to the health department.
"We continue to monitor this outbreak and are taking every possible step to minimize the impact of the virus on the citizens of Pennsylvania," Secretary of Health Everette James said.
Also Thursday, the School District of the City of York closed a third public school as a precaution due to flu-like illnesses. Classes were held Thursday at Hannah Penn Middle School, but the school district decided there won't be classes Friday and the school will remain closed through the end of the school year. On Monday, the school district announced the closing of McKinley Elementary and Edgar Fahs Smith Middle School for the remainder of the school year.
There have been 11,468 probable and confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S., including 770 hospitalizations and 19 deaths, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The epidemic peaked in Mexico, the center of the outbreak, in late April, and now has spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the CDC said.
Health officials in Wisconsin, California, Illinois and Utah also reported deaths from swine flu on Thursday, and said all four patients had had other health problems.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/19666609/detail.html
1st Swine Flu Death In Pa. Confirmed
Posted: 9:11 am EDT June 5, 2009Updated: 9:18 am EDT June 5, 2009
<!--startindex-->HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A 55-year-old Berks County woman died from swine flu Thursday, the first death from the illness in the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Health said.
She had significant underlying health issues, a health department spokeswoman said.
The state has 269 confirmed cases and 101 probable cases of illness due to the virus, according to the health department.
"We continue to monitor this outbreak and are taking every possible step to minimize the impact of the virus on the citizens of Pennsylvania," Secretary of Health Everette James said.
Also Thursday, the School District of the City of York closed a third public school as a precaution due to flu-like illnesses. Classes were held Thursday at Hannah Penn Middle School, but the school district decided there won't be classes Friday and the school will remain closed through the end of the school year. On Monday, the school district announced the closing of McKinley Elementary and Edgar Fahs Smith Middle School for the remainder of the school year.
There have been 11,468 probable and confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S., including 770 hospitalizations and 19 deaths, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. The epidemic peaked in Mexico, the center of the outbreak, in late April, and now has spread throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the CDC said.
Health officials in Wisconsin, California, Illinois and Utah also reported deaths from swine flu on Thursday, and said all four patients had had other health problems.
http://www.wpxi.com/news/19666609/detail.html
Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: First Pennsylvania death
Source: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1109460
POSTED: 06-05-2009 12:28 PM ET | MODIFIED: 06-05-2009 12:34 PM ET
Woman In Berks Identified As PA's First Swine Flu Death
VIDEO
Berks County is the location of the first swine flu death in Pennsylvania. And we now know the identity of the 55-year-old woman who died at Reading Hospital yesterday from complications of what's also known as the H1N1 virus. WFMZ's Joel D. Smith reports.
A family member has identified the woman's name as Barbara Bradford, a woman living in Robesonia. That's inside the Conrad Weiser School District. According to the school district's website, there are 41 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the schools there. West Elementary was even shut down for a week for cleaning as a way to slow down the spread. Statewide, nothing seems to be working.
>> OSTROFF: The amount of illness that we're seeing in Pennsylvania is greater than at any time since this new influenza was recognized, so it seems to be on the upswing in the state rather than in the other direction.
>> REPORTER: From what we're told, none of Bradford's children or grandchildren have the virus. Yet officials say, because of some previous health problems, once she got it, it was especially hard to fight.
>> OSTROFF: Like has been the case with many of the other fatal cases of this new influenza virus she also had underlying health conditions which would put her at higher risk of having complications from the flu.
>> REPORTER: Berks County has long been the place with the most cases of H1N1 in the state. At last count there were 75 known cases and another six probable ones for a total of 81. In the entire state, the number is 370 people infected. But until yesterday, there had been no fatalities. Now there's one. The Reading Hospital says this was the only confirmed case of the swine flu to come into the hospital, so far.
Source: http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1109460
POSTED: 06-05-2009 12:28 PM ET | MODIFIED: 06-05-2009 12:34 PM ET
Woman In Berks Identified As PA's First Swine Flu Death
VIDEO
Berks County is the location of the first swine flu death in Pennsylvania. And we now know the identity of the 55-year-old woman who died at Reading Hospital yesterday from complications of what's also known as the H1N1 virus. WFMZ's Joel D. Smith reports.
A family member has identified the woman's name as Barbara Bradford, a woman living in Robesonia. That's inside the Conrad Weiser School District. According to the school district's website, there are 41 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in the schools there. West Elementary was even shut down for a week for cleaning as a way to slow down the spread. Statewide, nothing seems to be working.
>> OSTROFF: The amount of illness that we're seeing in Pennsylvania is greater than at any time since this new influenza was recognized, so it seems to be on the upswing in the state rather than in the other direction.
>> REPORTER: From what we're told, none of Bradford's children or grandchildren have the virus. Yet officials say, because of some previous health problems, once she got it, it was especially hard to fight.
>> OSTROFF: Like has been the case with many of the other fatal cases of this new influenza virus she also had underlying health conditions which would put her at higher risk of having complications from the flu.
>> REPORTER: Berks County has long been the place with the most cases of H1N1 in the state. At last count there were 75 known cases and another six probable ones for a total of 81. In the entire state, the number is 370 people infected. But until yesterday, there had been no fatalities. Now there's one. The Reading Hospital says this was the only confirmed case of the swine flu to come into the hospital, so far.
Re: First Pennsylvania death
Map of area, including affected school
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://flutracker.rhiza.com">Maps</a>
Notice that Robesonia is right next to Conrad Weiser Middle School, with Conrad Weiser Elementary West just to the west, and Conrad Weiser East Elementary School just to the east (all of which are on the map because they have confirmed cases).
Dead patient was surrounded.
Map of area, including affected school
<a rel="nofollow" href="http://flutracker.rhiza.com">Maps</a>
Notice that Robesonia is right next to Conrad Weiser Middle School, with Conrad Weiser Elementary West just to the west, and Conrad Weiser East Elementary School just to the east (all of which are on the map because they have confirmed cases).
Dead patient was surrounded.
Re: First Pennsylvania death
6/5/2009 3:00pm
Novel 2009 Influenza A/H1N1
Confirmed and Probable Case Counts In Pennsylvania
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD><TD>Confirmed Cases</TD><TD> </TD><TD>
</TD><TD>Probable Cases</TD><TD> </TD><TD>
</TD><TD>Deaths</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TH>County</TH><TH align=right>Confirmed</TH><TH align=right>Probable</TH><TH align=right>Deaths</TH><TH align=right>Totals</TH></TR><TR><TD>Adams</TD><TD align=right>4</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Allegheny</TD><TD align=right>27</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>28</TD></TR><TR><TD>Beaver</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Berks</TD><TD align=right>80</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>83</TD></TR><TR><TD>Blair</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bucks</TD><TD align=right>16</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>19</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cambria</TD><TD align=right>4</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Carbon</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Centre</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chester</TD><TD align=right>8</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>9</TD></TR><TR><TD>Clinton</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Columbia</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cumberland</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Delaware</TD><TD align=right>15</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>16</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lackawanna</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lancaster</TD><TD align=right>6</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lebanon</TD><TD align=right>17</TD><TD align=right>12</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>29</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lehigh</TD><TD align=right>13</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>16</TD></TR><TR><TD>Luzerne</TD><TD align=right>6</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lycoming</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mercer</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Monroe</TD><TD align=right>20</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>23</TD></TR><TR><TD>Montgomery</TD><TD align=right>18</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>19</TD></TR><TR><TD>Northampton</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>12</TD></TR><TR><TD>Philadelphia</TD><TD align=right>70</TD><TD align=right>11</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>81</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pike</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Schuylkill</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Westmoreland</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>York</TD><TD align=right>17</TD><TD align=right>8</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>25</TD></TR><TR><TD>Unknown</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD>Totals</TD><TD align=right>361</TD><TD align=right>61</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>423</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
6/5/2009 3:00pm
Novel 2009 Influenza A/H1N1
Confirmed and Probable Case Counts In Pennsylvania
<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD>
<TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TH>County</TH><TH align=right>Confirmed</TH><TH align=right>Probable</TH><TH align=right>Deaths</TH><TH align=right>Totals</TH></TR><TR><TD>Adams</TD><TD align=right>4</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Allegheny</TD><TD align=right>27</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>28</TD></TR><TR><TD>Beaver</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Berks</TD><TD align=right>80</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>83</TD></TR><TR><TD>Blair</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Bucks</TD><TD align=right>16</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>19</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cambria</TD><TD align=right>4</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Carbon</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Centre</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Chester</TD><TD align=right>8</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>9</TD></TR><TR><TD>Clinton</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Columbia</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Cumberland</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Delaware</TD><TD align=right>15</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>16</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lackawanna</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>4</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lancaster</TD><TD align=right>6</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>7</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lebanon</TD><TD align=right>17</TD><TD align=right>12</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>29</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lehigh</TD><TD align=right>13</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>16</TD></TR><TR><TD>Luzerne</TD><TD align=right>6</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>8</TD></TR><TR><TD>Lycoming</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>1</TD></TR><TR><TD>Mercer</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>2</TD></TR><TR><TD>Monroe</TD><TD align=right>20</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>23</TD></TR><TR><TD>Montgomery</TD><TD align=right>18</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>19</TD></TR><TR><TD>Northampton</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>12</TD></TR><TR><TD>Philadelphia</TD><TD align=right>70</TD><TD align=right>11</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>81</TD></TR><TR><TD>Pike</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>Schuylkill</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>5</TD></TR><TR><TD>Westmoreland</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>3</TD></TR><TR><TD>York</TD><TD align=right>17</TD><TD align=right>8</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>25</TD></TR><TR><TD>Unknown</TD><TD align=right>3</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>3</TD></TR><TR bgColor=#cccccc><TD>Totals</TD><TD align=right>361</TD><TD align=right>61</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>423</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Re: First Pennsylvania death
Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090605_ap_rendellsayspafluvictimhaddiabetesasthma.html
Posted on Fri, Jun. 5, 2009
Rendell says Pa. flu victim had diabetes, asthma
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - Gov. Ed Rendell says the state's first resident to die of swine flu had also suffered from diabetes and asthma.
Rendell spoke in Pittsburgh on Friday, a day after the state reported the death of a 55-year-old Berks County woman from swine flu. Rendell says there is also a 27-year-old man hospitalized in Philadelphia in critical condition with the virus.
Also Friday, a south-central Pennsylvania school district announced that all of its elementary schools would close for the remainder of the school year due to flu concerns. The School District of the City of York, which already closed three schools, is also closing the Duke Street Alternative School.
In Pennsylvania, there have been a total of 361 confirmed cases of swine flu, and 12 probable cases.
Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090605_ap_rendellsayspafluvictimhaddiabetesasthma.html
Posted on Fri, Jun. 5, 2009
Rendell says Pa. flu victim had diabetes, asthma
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH - Gov. Ed Rendell says the state's first resident to die of swine flu had also suffered from diabetes and asthma.
Rendell spoke in Pittsburgh on Friday, a day after the state reported the death of a 55-year-old Berks County woman from swine flu. Rendell says there is also a 27-year-old man hospitalized in Philadelphia in critical condition with the virus.
Also Friday, a south-central Pennsylvania school district announced that all of its elementary schools would close for the remainder of the school year due to flu concerns. The School District of the City of York, which already closed three schools, is also closing the Duke Street Alternative School.
In Pennsylvania, there have been a total of 361 confirmed cases of swine flu, and 12 probable cases.
Giuseppe
Emeritus
Re: First Pennsylvania death
SA, Pennsylvania. Swine flu victim who died identified as Robesonia woman (edited)
SA, Pennsylvania. Swine flu victim who died identified as Robesonia woman (edited)
6/6/2009
Swine flu victim who died identified as Robesonia woman
Diabetes and asthma increased susceptibility to H1N1, officials say
By Dan Kelly and Mike Urban
Reading Eagle
The Berks County swine flu victim who died in Reading Hospital this week was from Robesonia, hospital officials confirmed.
Barbara Bradford, 55, died Thursday and had tested positive for H1N1, officials said.
The disease was an underlying cause of her death along with other health problems, said state Department of Health spokeswoman Stacy Kreideman.
Bradford's death is the first one in Pennsylvania and the 18th in the United States related to the outbreak, officials said.
Bradford's family declined comment Friday at her home on West Penn Avenue.
The state Department of Health did not release the woman's name but said she had significant underlying health issues, which health officials say is typically the case in influenza deaths.
In a press conference Friday afternoon, Gov. Ed Rendell said the woman suffered from diabetes and asthma, two chronic health conditions that made her more susceptible to the virus.
Berks has had 80 confirmed cases of H1N1 and two probable cases, the health department said. Deaths are listed in a separate category and not counted among the confirmed cases, the department said.
Berks has the most cases among counties in Pennsylvania, which has 361 confirmed cases and 61 probable cases.
Fifty of the Berks cases were students in the Conrad Weiser School District, which includes Robesonia, said Dr. Robert L. Urzillo, superintendent.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Health Department spent several weeks studying the virus in the district and testing for new cases. They finished that investigation this week, Urzillo said.
The CDC referred questions about the study and about the prevalence of H1N1 in Berks to the state Health Department.Nationally, the numbers of seasonal flu cases usually outnumber novel strains of influenza like swine flu by about five to one, but so far this season swine flu cases are being reported in higher numbers, Kriedeman said.
Kriedeman said that doesn't necessarily mean there have been more cases of swine flu than regular seasonal flu.
The numbers could be elevated because the Health Department, CDC, hospitals and doctors have been aggressively testing for swine flu, she said.
There also are many cases where people contracted either strain of the flu but were never tested.
"Either way, the numbers for this season would be skewed," she said.
Although all types of influenza strike hardest in the very young and very old, people born in 1958 or earlier may already have some natural immunity to the swine flu, Dr. Kenneth J. DeBenedictis, a Reading Hospital epidemiologist, said Friday.
"After 1958, most of the flu virus in the United States was the Asian flu variety," DeBenedictis said.
But that won't help those with underlying health conditions, such as Bradford.
DeBenedictis said Bradford's death does not mean the swine flu is any worse than ordinary flu.
"In fact, I would call the seasonal version of the flu this year and the swine flu as relatively mild versions of the flu," he said.
He said even the deadly flu of 1918 killed only about 2 percent of the people that contracted it, or about 675,000 Americans.
He said about 36 million of the total population of 103,208,000 in 1918 was never exposed to the flu and that 98 percent of those people exposed recovered.
DeBenedictis echoed comments from the state Health Department that swine flu numbers are probably higher in Berks because the CDC has been studying the spread of the virus here.
Dr. Jeffrey Hassel, director of the city health department, said when health officials talk about underlying medical conditions complicated by the flu, they are most commonly referring to diseases of the auto-immune system, like AIDS and diabetes.
Others who are susceptible include people with cancer, heart disease and chronic heart failure, and emphysema, he said.
"Basically, anyone with cancer, a bad heart or lung problems," Hassel said.
He also said he saw no reason for concern over the first swine flu death or the increasing number of cases being reported.
He said there are probably many cases of swine flu and regular seasonal flu that never will be counted because people who contracted them never felt sick enough to see their doctor.
Contact Dan Kelly: 610-371-5040 or dkelly@readingeagle.com.
-
<cite cite="http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=141957">Swine flu victim who died identified as Robesonia woman</cite>Swine flu victim who died identified as Robesonia woman
Diabetes and asthma increased susceptibility to H1N1, officials say
By Dan Kelly and Mike Urban
Reading Eagle
The Berks County swine flu victim who died in Reading Hospital this week was from Robesonia, hospital officials confirmed.
Barbara Bradford, 55, died Thursday and had tested positive for H1N1, officials said.
The disease was an underlying cause of her death along with other health problems, said state Department of Health spokeswoman Stacy Kreideman.
Bradford's death is the first one in Pennsylvania and the 18th in the United States related to the outbreak, officials said.
Bradford's family declined comment Friday at her home on West Penn Avenue.
The state Department of Health did not release the woman's name but said she had significant underlying health issues, which health officials say is typically the case in influenza deaths.
In a press conference Friday afternoon, Gov. Ed Rendell said the woman suffered from diabetes and asthma, two chronic health conditions that made her more susceptible to the virus.
Berks has had 80 confirmed cases of H1N1 and two probable cases, the health department said. Deaths are listed in a separate category and not counted among the confirmed cases, the department said.
Berks has the most cases among counties in Pennsylvania, which has 361 confirmed cases and 61 probable cases.
Fifty of the Berks cases were students in the Conrad Weiser School District, which includes Robesonia, said Dr. Robert L. Urzillo, superintendent.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Health Department spent several weeks studying the virus in the district and testing for new cases. They finished that investigation this week, Urzillo said.
The CDC referred questions about the study and about the prevalence of H1N1 in Berks to the state Health Department.Nationally, the numbers of seasonal flu cases usually outnumber novel strains of influenza like swine flu by about five to one, but so far this season swine flu cases are being reported in higher numbers, Kriedeman said.
Kriedeman said that doesn't necessarily mean there have been more cases of swine flu than regular seasonal flu.
The numbers could be elevated because the Health Department, CDC, hospitals and doctors have been aggressively testing for swine flu, she said.
There also are many cases where people contracted either strain of the flu but were never tested.
"Either way, the numbers for this season would be skewed," she said.
Although all types of influenza strike hardest in the very young and very old, people born in 1958 or earlier may already have some natural immunity to the swine flu, Dr. Kenneth J. DeBenedictis, a Reading Hospital epidemiologist, said Friday.
"After 1958, most of the flu virus in the United States was the Asian flu variety," DeBenedictis said.
But that won't help those with underlying health conditions, such as Bradford.
DeBenedictis said Bradford's death does not mean the swine flu is any worse than ordinary flu.
"In fact, I would call the seasonal version of the flu this year and the swine flu as relatively mild versions of the flu," he said.
He said even the deadly flu of 1918 killed only about 2 percent of the people that contracted it, or about 675,000 Americans.
He said about 36 million of the total population of 103,208,000 in 1918 was never exposed to the flu and that 98 percent of those people exposed recovered.
DeBenedictis echoed comments from the state Health Department that swine flu numbers are probably higher in Berks because the CDC has been studying the spread of the virus here.
Dr. Jeffrey Hassel, director of the city health department, said when health officials talk about underlying medical conditions complicated by the flu, they are most commonly referring to diseases of the auto-immune system, like AIDS and diabetes.
Others who are susceptible include people with cancer, heart disease and chronic heart failure, and emphysema, he said.
"Basically, anyone with cancer, a bad heart or lung problems," Hassel said.
He also said he saw no reason for concern over the first swine flu death or the increasing number of cases being reported.
He said there are probably many cases of swine flu and regular seasonal flu that never will be counted because people who contracted them never felt sick enough to see their doctor.
Contact Dan Kelly: 610-371-5040 or dkelly@readingeagle.com.
-
Re: First Pennsylvania death
The above demonsrates how the CDC delays in posting data feeds into the news stories. There have been 16 deaths in the US announced in the past three days (Jun 3 -3 NY, MI, IL, CT, VA; Jun 4 - WI, CA, IL, UT, PA, AZ; Jun 5 - WA, TX, NY), in addition to 20 announced prior, so the 18 quoted above only represents 50% of the confirmed cases in the US.
Re: First Pennsylvania death
#9/10: seasonal flu / CDC numbers
"Kriedeman said that doesn't necessarily mean there have been more cases of swine flu than regular seasonal flu.
The numbers could be elevated because the Health Department, CDC, hospitals and doctors have been aggressively testing for swine flu, she said."
Am I wrong (if yes correct me),
or the CDC/estab here want's to instaurate an new northern hemisphere metro legend:
"seasonal flu in June/July/... summertime"
When summer cames (and even prior), there are no northern seasonal flus at all.
#9/10: seasonal flu / CDC numbers
"Kriedeman said that doesn't necessarily mean there have been more cases of swine flu than regular seasonal flu.
The numbers could be elevated because the Health Department, CDC, hospitals and doctors have been aggressively testing for swine flu, she said."
Am I wrong (if yes correct me),
or the CDC/estab here want's to instaurate an new northern hemisphere metro legend:
"seasonal flu in June/July/... summertime"
When summer cames (and even prior), there are no northern seasonal flus at all.
Re: First Pennsylvania death
The latest report is for week 21 and the detection rate is above 39%, higher than seasonal flu at the peak of flu season in February.
The "normal level" nonsense at best is comparing the current unprecedented end of May level with flu activity in Febraury. There is no comparison with week 21 levels, because there are no prior week 21 reports.
Normally, the CDC weekly reports go from week 40 to week 20. There are no reports from week 21 to 39 because there is virtually no flu activity in the US over that time period.
The latest report is for week 21 and the detection rate is above 39%, higher than seasonal flu at the peak of flu season in February.
The "normal level" nonsense at best is comparing the current unprecedented end of May level with flu activity in Febraury. There is no comparison with week 21 levels, because there are no prior week 21 reports.
Re: First Pennsylvania death
Thank you Dr. Niman.
Obviously there are spining there (and worldwide):
#9:
"The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Health Department spent several weeks studying the virus in the district and testing for new cases. They finished that investigation this week, Urzillo said.
The CDC referred questions about the study and about the prevalence of H1N1 in Berks to the state Health Department.Nationally, the numbers of seasonal flu cases usually outnumber novel strains of influenza like swine flu by about five to one, but so far this season swine flu cases are being reported in higher numbers, Kriedeman said."
Thank you Dr. Niman.
Obviously there are spining there (and worldwide):
#9:
"The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Health Department spent several weeks studying the virus in the district and testing for new cases. They finished that investigation this week, Urzillo said.
The CDC referred questions about the study and about the prevalence of H1N1 in Berks to the state Health Department.Nationally, the numbers of seasonal flu cases usually outnumber novel strains of influenza like swine flu by about five to one, but so far this season swine flu cases are being reported in higher numbers, Kriedeman said."