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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?id=1400&nid=23435
Edhat Santa Barbara : Second Swine Flu death in county reported
Second Swine Flu death in county reported
updated: Oct 20, 2009, 9:40 AM
Source: County Public Health
The Public Health Department is sad to report a second fatality due to the pandemic H1N1 flu in Santa Barbara County over the weekend.
This was a 4 year old boy who had underlying medical conditions. Michele Mickiewicz, Interim Department Director, noted "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time. The loss of a child is a tremendous tragedy."
Children under two years of age and children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and diabetes, are at increased risk of severe illness from the H1N1 Flu or swine flu. "The pattern of illness from H1N1 flu is very different from what we see with the seasonal flu. H1N1 flu is causing more serious illness in those under 40 while the seasonal flu is more likely to impact older people," explained Santa Barbara County Health Officer, Dr. Peter Hasler.
"We recommend contacting your doctor as soon as possible when a child under age two, a pregnant woman or a person of any age with chronic lung, heart, neurological, immune or other disorders becomes ill with fever and cough," he emphasized.
With an increase in the number of severe cases of H1N1 in our county, many residents are asking about the availability of H1N1 vaccine. Many health care providers in Santa Barbara County have received very limited doses of the attenuated nasal spray H1N1 vaccine (Flu Mist). This vaccine is being delivered to healthy children between the ages of 2 and 9.
The federal government expects there will be enough H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine for everyone who wants it. It will be shipped in batches over a period of many weeks. The initial shipments of vaccine are for groups of people who are at greatest risk of getting severely ill with H1N1 flu. This includes young children (6 months - 4 years), pregnant women, and people between the ages of 5 and 24 with chronic medical conditions. Healthcare workers will also receive the vaccine early in order to keep our health system working for everyone. This flu is least likely to impact people over 64 years of age.
As a result, this group will receive the vaccine a little later than other more vulnerable groups. The Centers for Disease Control expects there will be adequate vaccine for everyone. For additional information, go to the Public Health Department flu website www.sbcfluinfo.org, call 888-722-6358, or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SBCPublicHealth.
Public Health Department report second fatality pandemic H1N1 Santa Barbara County over weekend, 4-year-old
Edhat Santa Barbara : Second Swine Flu death in county reported
Second Swine Flu death in county reported
updated: Oct 20, 2009, 9:40 AM
Source: County Public Health
The Public Health Department is sad to report a second fatality due to the pandemic H1N1 flu in Santa Barbara County over the weekend.
This was a 4 year old boy who had underlying medical conditions. Michele Mickiewicz, Interim Department Director, noted "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this very difficult time. The loss of a child is a tremendous tragedy."
Children under two years of age and children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, and diabetes, are at increased risk of severe illness from the H1N1 Flu or swine flu. "The pattern of illness from H1N1 flu is very different from what we see with the seasonal flu. H1N1 flu is causing more serious illness in those under 40 while the seasonal flu is more likely to impact older people," explained Santa Barbara County Health Officer, Dr. Peter Hasler.
"We recommend contacting your doctor as soon as possible when a child under age two, a pregnant woman or a person of any age with chronic lung, heart, neurological, immune or other disorders becomes ill with fever and cough," he emphasized.
With an increase in the number of severe cases of H1N1 in our county, many residents are asking about the availability of H1N1 vaccine. Many health care providers in Santa Barbara County have received very limited doses of the attenuated nasal spray H1N1 vaccine (Flu Mist). This vaccine is being delivered to healthy children between the ages of 2 and 9.
The federal government expects there will be enough H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine for everyone who wants it. It will be shipped in batches over a period of many weeks. The initial shipments of vaccine are for groups of people who are at greatest risk of getting severely ill with H1N1 flu. This includes young children (6 months - 4 years), pregnant women, and people between the ages of 5 and 24 with chronic medical conditions. Healthcare workers will also receive the vaccine early in order to keep our health system working for everyone. This flu is least likely to impact people over 64 years of age.
As a result, this group will receive the vaccine a little later than other more vulnerable groups. The Centers for Disease Control expects there will be adequate vaccine for everyone. For additional information, go to the Public Health Department flu website www.sbcfluinfo.org, call 888-722-6358, or follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SBCPublicHealth.
Public Health Department report second fatality pandemic H1N1 Santa Barbara County over weekend, 4-year-old