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Swine flu-related deaths in Hawaii climb to 10, including a child
By Helen Altonn
POSTED: 09:13 a.m. HST, Sep 04, 2009
Four more Hawaii deaths--including the first child here -- have been attributed to H1N1 Influenza A (swine flu), Janice Okubo, state Health Department spokeswoman, said today.
She said state epidemiologist Sarah Park confirmed the deaths of three adults and a child under 5 years old from H1N1 influenza between June and August.
As in previous H1N1 deaths, two adults had underlying medical conditions, but one adult and the child did not, she said.
The four deaths raise the total to 10 since the first swine flu cases were confirmed here May 5.
Park has said she expected more deaths to occur from the novel flu because flu kills people every year, Okubo said. Three deaths have occurred in Hawaii this year from seasonal flu and possibly there have been more because it?s difficult to track, she said.
H1N1 and seasonal flu target different groups, she said: Seasonal flu typically affects the very young and very old and people with underlying chronic medical conditions. H1N1 also affects people with chronic medical conditions but doesn?t seem to be as severe among people over age 65. Most hospitalizations and deaths are in younger people.
Health officials have urged people to get seasonal flu shots (swine flu vaccine isn?t available yet) to protect themselves and to practice good hygiene and stay home if sick to avoid spreading illness.
?It?s really important for anyone with respiratory problems, with bluish color to their skin and trouble breathing, to seek emergency medical services very quickly,? Okubo said.
Swine flu-related deaths in Hawaii climb to 10, including a child
By Helen Altonn
POSTED: 09:13 a.m. HST, Sep 04, 2009
Four more Hawaii deaths--including the first child here -- have been attributed to H1N1 Influenza A (swine flu), Janice Okubo, state Health Department spokeswoman, said today.
She said state epidemiologist Sarah Park confirmed the deaths of three adults and a child under 5 years old from H1N1 influenza between June and August.
As in previous H1N1 deaths, two adults had underlying medical conditions, but one adult and the child did not, she said.
The four deaths raise the total to 10 since the first swine flu cases were confirmed here May 5.
Park has said she expected more deaths to occur from the novel flu because flu kills people every year, Okubo said. Three deaths have occurred in Hawaii this year from seasonal flu and possibly there have been more because it?s difficult to track, she said.
H1N1 and seasonal flu target different groups, she said: Seasonal flu typically affects the very young and very old and people with underlying chronic medical conditions. H1N1 also affects people with chronic medical conditions but doesn?t seem to be as severe among people over age 65. Most hospitalizations and deaths are in younger people.
Health officials have urged people to get seasonal flu shots (swine flu vaccine isn?t available yet) to protect themselves and to practice good hygiene and stay home if sick to avoid spreading illness.
?It?s really important for anyone with respiratory problems, with bluish color to their skin and trouble breathing, to seek emergency medical services very quickly,? Okubo said.
