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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.kctv5.com/news/21179847/detail.html
Johnson Co. Family Reeling After H1N1 Death
Woman First To Die From Virus In Johnson County
POSTED: 6:07 am CDT October 2, 2009
UPDATED: 6:49 am CDT October 2, 2009
LENEXA, Kan. -- The family of the first person to die of H1N1 in Johnson County is hoping her death will serve as a reminder to people to help prevent the spread of the disease.
On Sept. 25 30-year-old mother Leekesha Henderson, Lenexa, died of complications from H1N1.
"I never thought it would hit her," June Henderson, Henderson's mother, said.
Sick with pneumonia, Leekesha Henderson went to Shawnee Mission Medical Center for treatment. She soon went back home, but came back to the hospital the next day sicker than before with H1N1.
"She ended up with two lungs damaged and H1N1 and she passed away at the hospital," June Henderson said.
Leekesha left behind her 11-year-old daughter, Unique.
"She's an only child and very close to her mom, a lot of love there," Jean Henderson, Leekesha's aunt, said. "We know people are anxious for the vaccine to arrive."
Johnson County health officials said every state has put in an order for the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine yesterday and they hope the shipments begin arriving next week. The first ones getting the nasal spray are health care practitioners like doctors and nurses, then healthy people ages 2 to 49 and not pregnant.
When the vaccine injections begin arriving in a couple weeks, the first to get it will be pregnant women, caregivers of children under 6-months-old, people ages six months to 24-years-old and those 25 to 64 with health conditions.
Even with the vaccine, health officials said everyone needs to continue to be proactive in protecting themselves with standard preventions like handwashing, covering coughs and staying home if sick.
The first batch of the vaccine is extremely small, so every county is getting a limited supply of the vaccine at first. Health officials expect there to be plenty for everyone in the next couple of months.
The H1N1 vaccine will be free.
Johnson Co. Family Reeling After H1N1 Death
Woman First To Die From Virus In Johnson County
POSTED: 6:07 am CDT October 2, 2009
UPDATED: 6:49 am CDT October 2, 2009
LENEXA, Kan. -- The family of the first person to die of H1N1 in Johnson County is hoping her death will serve as a reminder to people to help prevent the spread of the disease.
On Sept. 25 30-year-old mother Leekesha Henderson, Lenexa, died of complications from H1N1.
"I never thought it would hit her," June Henderson, Henderson's mother, said.
Sick with pneumonia, Leekesha Henderson went to Shawnee Mission Medical Center for treatment. She soon went back home, but came back to the hospital the next day sicker than before with H1N1.
"She ended up with two lungs damaged and H1N1 and she passed away at the hospital," June Henderson said.
Leekesha left behind her 11-year-old daughter, Unique.
"She's an only child and very close to her mom, a lot of love there," Jean Henderson, Leekesha's aunt, said. "We know people are anxious for the vaccine to arrive."
Johnson County health officials said every state has put in an order for the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine yesterday and they hope the shipments begin arriving next week. The first ones getting the nasal spray are health care practitioners like doctors and nurses, then healthy people ages 2 to 49 and not pregnant.
When the vaccine injections begin arriving in a couple weeks, the first to get it will be pregnant women, caregivers of children under 6-months-old, people ages six months to 24-years-old and those 25 to 64 with health conditions.
Even with the vaccine, health officials said everyone needs to continue to be proactive in protecting themselves with standard preventions like handwashing, covering coughs and staying home if sick.
The first batch of the vaccine is extremely small, so every county is getting a limited supply of the vaccine at first. Health officials expect there to be plenty for everyone in the next couple of months.
The H1N1 vaccine will be free.