H1N1 flu continues to wane in state; 5 more deaths last week

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyl...ArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUT

H1N1 flu continues to wane in state; 5 more deaths last week

By JOSEPHINE MARCOTTY, Star Tribune

Last update: December 9, 2009 - 2:35 PM


Only 13 Minnesotans were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected cases of H1N1 flu last week as the pandemic continued to wane, the state Department of Health reported today. That's down from a peak of 266 such cases in mid-October.

There were four deaths from either confirmed or suspected H1N1 last week, bringing the total to 49 since the virus first appeared last April. There was also one death related to a different type of influenza. Although the death toll continues to climb, health officials consider it a trailing indicator of the outbreak because of the lag-time in testing samples from patients.

Just one school reported an outbreak of flu-like illness in the latest report, meaning that at least five percent of the student body was out sick or at least three children in one classroom. Last week there were no reported outbreaks.

As of Nov. 24, 1.3 million doses of H1N1 vaccine have been ordered for 810 clinics across the state.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: H1N1 flu continues to wane in state; 5 more deaths last week

Stearns County resident among those who died from flu

By Frank Lee ? fclee@stcloudtimes.com ? December 10, 2009

A Stearns County resident was among the five Minnesotans whose H1N1 flu-related deaths were announced this week by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The adult was in his or her 50s and had underlying health conditions but was not hospitalized, according to Doug Schultz, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health.

?Given the amount of detail that we are providing, there is some concern by our epidemiologist that any more information we release could basically identify the individual,? Schultz said Thursday for the deceased?s undisclosed gender.

The four other Minnesotans who died were from St. Louis, Itasca, Washington and Carlton counties, and all five of the deaths announced Wednesday occurred between Oct. 27-Nov. 27.

Last week, the health department reported the death of a Sherburne County man in his 60s who had an underlying health condition but who was not hospitalized; he died between Oct. 27-Nov. 19.

There have been 44 H1N1 flu-related deaths in the state, and six deaths from seasonal or unspecified influenzas this year as H1N1 flu-related activity in the state continues to decline.

Central Minnesota counties, including Benton, Sherburne and Morrison counties, have scheduled more H1N1 flu vaccination clinics in upcoming weeks as more of the vaccine becomes available.

http://www.sctimes.com/article/2009...County-resident-among-those-who-died-from-flu