http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Young+adult+Interior+seventh+person+from+H1N1/2080833/story.html
Young adult in Interior is B.C.'s seventh person to die from H1N1
More severe cases are on the way, specialist says
By Amy O'Brian, Vancouver SunOctober 7, 2009
A young adult in the Interior is the seventh person in B.C. to die after contracting the H1N1 virus.
In the past week, there have also been 11 new severe cases of the virus, bringing the total to 64 since April.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is no longer tracking all new cases of the H1N1 virus, instead reporting only severe cases, which it defines as those that require hospitalization or end in death.
The most recent death associated with H1N1 occurred Tuesday at a hospital within the Interior Health Authority. Public health officials there would not release the age or gender of the patient, but they did say the person had underlying health conditions.
All seven of the H1N1-related deaths in B.C. have involved underlying medical conditions.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski, physician epidemiologist with the disease control centre, said there has been an upswing in H1N1 activity in recent weeks and she anticipates there will be a further increase in the number of severe cases and deaths.
"All indicators point to a dramatic upswing," she said Wednesday.
"So we should certainly anticipate that there will be more of those severe outcomes occurring."
People with medical conditions such as respiratory illnesses, diabetes and heart disease -- and women who are pregnant --should speak to their doctor about getting a prescription for an antiviral, which needs to be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms to be effective, Skowronski said.
See more swine flu stories at vancouversun.com/ swineflu
? Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Young adult in Interior is B.C.'s seventh person to die from H1N1
More severe cases are on the way, specialist says
By Amy O'Brian, Vancouver SunOctober 7, 2009
A young adult in the Interior is the seventh person in B.C. to die after contracting the H1N1 virus.
In the past week, there have also been 11 new severe cases of the virus, bringing the total to 64 since April.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control is no longer tracking all new cases of the H1N1 virus, instead reporting only severe cases, which it defines as those that require hospitalization or end in death.
The most recent death associated with H1N1 occurred Tuesday at a hospital within the Interior Health Authority. Public health officials there would not release the age or gender of the patient, but they did say the person had underlying health conditions.
All seven of the H1N1-related deaths in B.C. have involved underlying medical conditions.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski, physician epidemiologist with the disease control centre, said there has been an upswing in H1N1 activity in recent weeks and she anticipates there will be a further increase in the number of severe cases and deaths.
"All indicators point to a dramatic upswing," she said Wednesday.
"So we should certainly anticipate that there will be more of those severe outcomes occurring."
People with medical conditions such as respiratory illnesses, diabetes and heart disease -- and women who are pregnant --should speak to their doctor about getting a prescription for an antiviral, which needs to be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms to be effective, Skowronski said.
See more swine flu stories at vancouversun.com/ swineflu
? Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun