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Six Oklahomans died from swine flu last week, health officials say
by: KIM ARCHER and SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writers
Thursday, October 29, 2009
10/29/2009 12:31:19 PM
Six Oklahomans died from swine flu last week, bringing the official tally of reported deaths from the novel H1N1 virus to 17, health officials said.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health releases its weekly figures each Thursday.
An Oklahoma City girl who died Monday would not have been included in the state's official tally of 17, as well as a Kay County man who died earlier this year before a new reporting system went into place Sept. 1.
Of the latest deaths, four were in Oklahoma County, one was in Carter County and another was in Canadian County.
Four of those who died were adults and two were younger than 19, said state health department spokesman Larry Weatherford.
Four of the six who died had underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk for complications or death from the novel H1N1 virus, he said.
The two who were younger than 19 did not, he said.
"I think it's really important not to create the impression that a preexisting condition is required for the H1N1 influenza to be dangerous," Weatherford said.
Oklahoma hospitalizations associated with the virus fell slightly, he said.
Another 175 people were hospitalized in Oklahoma last week due to complications from the swine flu, bringing total hospitalizations in the state to 678 as of Sept. 1, the report said.
In total, six of the 19 who died were younger than 19, and two of the children had underlying medical conditions that may have increased their risk of illness, the report said.
One child was younger than 6 months of age.
Overall, at least 10 of those who died had documented underlying conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity or an immune-compromising condition.
Weatherford said as soon as H1N1 vaccine is received, "we get them out the door as soon as we can."
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20091029_298_0_SixOkl268385
by: KIM ARCHER and SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writers
Thursday, October 29, 2009
10/29/2009 12:31:19 PM
Six Oklahomans died from swine flu last week, bringing the official tally of reported deaths from the novel H1N1 virus to 17, health officials said.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health releases its weekly figures each Thursday.
An Oklahoma City girl who died Monday would not have been included in the state's official tally of 17, as well as a Kay County man who died earlier this year before a new reporting system went into place Sept. 1.
Of the latest deaths, four were in Oklahoma County, one was in Carter County and another was in Canadian County.
Four of those who died were adults and two were younger than 19, said state health department spokesman Larry Weatherford.
Four of the six who died had underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk for complications or death from the novel H1N1 virus, he said.
The two who were younger than 19 did not, he said.
"I think it's really important not to create the impression that a preexisting condition is required for the H1N1 influenza to be dangerous," Weatherford said.
Oklahoma hospitalizations associated with the virus fell slightly, he said.
Another 175 people were hospitalized in Oklahoma last week due to complications from the swine flu, bringing total hospitalizations in the state to 678 as of Sept. 1, the report said.
In total, six of the 19 who died were younger than 19, and two of the children had underlying medical conditions that may have increased their risk of illness, the report said.
One child was younger than 6 months of age.
Overall, at least 10 of those who died had documented underlying conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity or an immune-compromising condition.
Weatherford said as soon as H1N1 vaccine is received, "we get them out the door as soon as we can."
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=17&articleid=20091029_298_0_SixOkl268385