NIH
Nov. 22--The Virginia Department of Health announced on Friday that 29 Commonwealth residents had died from swine flu and complications of the disease since last spring.
Each death has been confirmed through serology, which allows physicians and health officials to accurately identify which virus caused a patient's illness.
Virginia is among the states that encourages hospitals and other health care facility to positively identify and report cases of H1N1 influenza infection. While documented cases of swine flu have declined over the past two weeks, fatalities from the disease have increased rapidly since the beginning of October.
In speaking with state health officials, the Virginian-Pilot learned that six Hampton Roads and Western Tidewater residents have died after contracting swine flu. Three of those deaths occurred in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
The surest way to protect oneself against swine flu and other strains of the influenza virus is to get vaccinated, health experts agree. Drugs to treat flu once it has developed have limited effectiveness, and instances of cases in which patients with swine flu do not respond at all to antiviral medications are increasing. The largest number of medication-resistant H1N1 infections has occurred in North Carolina.
To find flu vaccines in Tidewater, throughout Virginia and across the United States, click here.
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- Swine Flu Parties Constitute Child Abuse
Comments
Ed, Thank you for this update. It is hard to track all of this. It seems that in NC the vaccine went to some that were not high risk, and not many family physician's are giving it, or even discussing it with their patients. Not sure why, but I keep asking my own patients if they have had, or been offered H1N1 vaccine, and they have not.
Many Richmond area hospitals don't give Tamiflu to people between 4 and 55 (I think those are the ages). They also quickly discharge patients in the same age range that aren't experiencing serious symptoms. They're trying to save medication and beds for the truly vulnerable population. I think it's a smart idea.
Kathleen, the supply problems with H1N1 vaccine seem to finally be resolving. The virus just doesn't grow quickly in laboratory conditions. To track the numbers of ordered, received and distributed swine flu vaccines, visit this CDC Web site: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccinesupply.htm
Elle, restricting the use of antivirals and antibiotics always strikes me as good idea. From flu to malaria, drug-resistant pathogens are quickly becoming the norm rather than the exception.
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