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Reported by the Lower Hudson Journal News in White Plains, NY:
Westchester's first swine flu death
BY CANDICE FERRETTE ? CFERRETT@LOHUD.COM ? JUNE 11, 2009
A 29-year-old Yonkers woman appears to be the first H1N1 swine flu death in Westchester, a county Health Department official said today.
The woman, who died on Tuesday night, had an underlying medical condition. The exact cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Medical Examiner. No further information is being released, said spokeswoman Caren Halbfinger.
"While this death is tragic and we feel for the family of the young woman, we also want the public to know that almost all residents who have had the H1N1 flu virus have had mild flu symptoms and have recovered on their own without medication or hospitalization," Halbfinger said.
The news comes just as the World Health Organization today declared a swine flu pandemic. This is the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. There have been 28,774 cases of swine flu in 74 countries around the world, including 144 deaths.
The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. WHO will now ask drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine.
The declaration will also prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.
There are 55 confirmed cases of swine flu in Westchester, eight in Rockland and three in Putnam. There have been no deaths in Rockland or Putnam.
There are likely more people with the virus in the community than reported because not everyone with symptoms is being tested.
Most of the cases in the Lower Hudson Valley have been mild with those affected recovering at home in a few days.
Current guidelines dictate that only those who are hospitalized or are part of a larger cluster are eligible to be tested for the disease. The treatment for the seasonal flu and the swine flu are the same; health officials continue to advise people to stay home if they have flu symptoms.
It is estimated that the seasonal flu kills about 130 Westchester residents and 36,000 in the U.S. annually.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20090611/NEWS02/906110482&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
Westchester's first swine flu death
BY CANDICE FERRETTE ? CFERRETT@LOHUD.COM ? JUNE 11, 2009
A 29-year-old Yonkers woman appears to be the first H1N1 swine flu death in Westchester, a county Health Department official said today.
The woman, who died on Tuesday night, had an underlying medical condition. The exact cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Medical Examiner. No further information is being released, said spokeswoman Caren Halbfinger.
"While this death is tragic and we feel for the family of the young woman, we also want the public to know that almost all residents who have had the H1N1 flu virus have had mild flu symptoms and have recovered on their own without medication or hospitalization," Halbfinger said.
The news comes just as the World Health Organization today declared a swine flu pandemic. This is the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. There have been 28,774 cases of swine flu in 74 countries around the world, including 144 deaths.
The long-awaited pandemic announcement is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. WHO will now ask drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine.
The declaration will also prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.
There are 55 confirmed cases of swine flu in Westchester, eight in Rockland and three in Putnam. There have been no deaths in Rockland or Putnam.
There are likely more people with the virus in the community than reported because not everyone with symptoms is being tested.
Most of the cases in the Lower Hudson Valley have been mild with those affected recovering at home in a few days.
Current guidelines dictate that only those who are hospitalized or are part of a larger cluster are eligible to be tested for the disease. The treatment for the seasonal flu and the swine flu are the same; health officials continue to advise people to stay home if they have flu symptoms.
It is estimated that the seasonal flu kills about 130 Westchester residents and 36,000 in the U.S. annually.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20090611/NEWS02/906110482&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL