Utah swine flu death toll rises to 10

[Gert van der Hoek]

Utah swine flu death toll rises to 10

Swine flu (ABC News)

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The Utah Department of Health reported on Wednesday that 210 Utahns have been hospitalized due to illnesses associated with the H1N1 (swine flu) virus and 10 have died.

The Utah County Health Department says one of the newly reported deaths is a female resident of that county between the ages of 18 and 39.

The Davis County Health Department reports the second death is a male resident of that county between the ages of 5 and 17.

Both victims had underlying medical conditions. Out of respect for patient privacy, no other information on either victim will be released.

Public health officials throughout the state continue to track the outbreak and are focusing their efforts on monitoring any changes in the severity of illness people are experiencing.

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/to...ises-to-10/mc4dtcKIu0Gtvh1E1-sd7g.cspx?rss=20

 

[thebes]

Re: Utah swine flu death toll rises to 10

Two more Utahns have died as the novel H1N1 flu continues to spread throughout the Beehive State at a rate that is "well above the epidemic threshold," for the reporting period June 14-20.

The Utah County Health Department reported a woman between the ages of 18 and 39 has died, and the Davis County Health Department reported the death of a boy between the ages of 5 and 17. As with several other Utah victims, both had underlying medical conditions, health officials said, adding no other information on either victim will be released.

The deaths bring the Utah total for novel H1N1 flu fatalities to 10.

The Utah Department of Health released new statistics Wednesday afternoon showing 81 more people have been hospitalized in the past week, bringing the total of hospitalized cases to 210.

Confirmed cases of the virus have now been identified in all of Utah's local health districts, though not all of those districts have seen patients hospitalized. Officials said the majority of cases, hospitalizations and deaths have occurred along the heavily populated Wasatch Front.

Most of those hospitalized have risk factors including chronic lung, heart or kidney disease.

"The public remains our most important partner as we respond to this developing pandemic," said Dr. David Sundwall, health department executive director. "One thing we can be sure of is that this virus will continue to change over time and we want to make sure Utahns don't let their guard down in terms of protecting themselves and others."

Officials continue to monitor any changes in the severity of illness that those who contract the virus are experiencing. They are concerned that it may become more virulent in the fall and spread more widely as cold weather begins. If that happens, Utahns may be asked to take additional steps to limit its spread.

"Families should begin preparing for what they would need if they are asked to spend a week away from school, work or other activities. Now is the time to update, or create, your emergency stockpile. Items like food, water, tissue, sanitizers, over-the-counter medications and prescription medications are all useful items to have on hand in the event you become ill and are confined to your home," officials said in a press release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now estimating the virus will be a "Category 2," which means it has the following characteristics:

Case fatality ratio of 0.1 percent to less than 0.5 percent.

Between 90,000 and 450,000 deaths in the U.S. (compared with estimated 36,000 deaths during a typical influenza season).

Excess death rate of between 30 to less than 150 per 100,000 people.

Illness rate of between 20 percent and 40 percent.

Similar to the 1957 flu pandemic.

State health officials have released an online set of guidelines for employers who are trying to determine how best to deal with the outbreak. Details may be found online at health.utah.gov/epi/h1n1flu/Q&As_Employer_061609_Final.pdf.

To avoid contracting or spreading the virus, officials are asking residents to cough or sneeze into a tissue and then dispose of it; wash hands with soap and water often or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers; avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth; and avoid close contact with sick people.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705312630/2-more-Utahns-die-from-H1N1-flu.html?pg=2

 

[Chuck]

Re: Utah swine flu death toll rises to 10

http://www.standard.net/live/news/176939

H1N1 claims one more in Davis
By Loretta Park
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
lpark@standard.net

FARMINGTON -- H1N1 has claimed another Davis County resident -- this time a boy between the ages of 5 and 17, officials say.

Davis County Health Department reported the death Wednesday, which has brought the county total to two and the state total to 10.

"These may be statistics, but they're still tragedies, and we send our condolences out to the family," said Lewis Garrett, health department director.

The Davis County boy is the second one in this age group across the state who has died from H1N1, also called swine flu, said Tom Hudachko, spokesman for the state health department. A woman between the ages of 18 and 39 in Utah County also died in the past week, according to a news release by the Utah Department of Health.

Both had underlying medical conditions that may have contributed to their deaths.

The health departments are not releasing any other information about the victims "out of respect for patient privacy," according to the news release.

State health department officials are asking residents to prepare now in case they are asked to spend a week away from work, school or other activities this fall or winter.

"This has been one of the mitigating efforts in pandemic planning," Hudachko said.

He pointed to Summit School District, which closed its schools in May for several days after a number of novel H1N1 influenza cases were reported.

"It was very taxing on the parents to make arrangements with their work," Hudachko said.

Garrett said influenza outbreaks are very unpredictable, but health officials believe, from past experience, that as time goes on, H1N1 could get worse.

"We could see many more cases and much more severe cases," Garrett said. "We're hoping this doesn't happen."

Residents are asked to stockpile food, water, tissue and sanitizers, as well as over-the-counter and prescription medications. They also need a plan for children in case schools are closed. For more information on how to limit the spread of illness, go to www.health.utah.gov/h1n1