First local H1N1 influenza death this fall

KING COUNTY, WA - A King County male in his 20s died yesterday from complications of H1N1 influenza (swine flu) and his underlying health conditions. This is the first reported H1N1 death in King County this fall as flu activity picks up.

"Our hearts go out to this man's loved ones," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Flu activity is increasing locally, and this tragedy is a reminder that H1N1 influenza can be a very serious illness and that people with underlying health conditions are at higher risk for severe complications and death. Vaccine is the best protection, and more doses will be arriving weekly to immunize people, beginning with people who need the protection most."

In King County from April 25 to October 2, 2009, there have been 82 hospitalizations of patients with H1N1 influenza. Nearly 1 in 4 required intensive care, and 3 of the 82 patients died.

Initially, vaccine is being prioritized to protect people most at risk for H1N1 influenza, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine availability will be opened up to everyone who wants it as soon as supplies are sufficient to cover demand in risk groups. The priority groups include:

• Pregnant women
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
• People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
• People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
• Healthcare and emergency workers

H1N1 vaccine availability

At this time H1N1 vaccine is still being manufactured and is not yet widely available for the general public in King County. Public Health is working with the State Department of Health and CDC to assure shipments to King County immunization providers on a rolling basis and as vaccine is produced.

Small, initial shipments totaling 20,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine began arriving in King County late last week for immunization of health care workers. A second shipment of 30,000 doses of vaccine may begin to arrive as soon as late this week to a limited number of health care providers so they can vaccinate their most at-risk patients.

Based on the best information currently available from CDC, larger supplies of vaccine needed for broader-scale administration to the public will begin to arrive in King County within the next several weeks. As more vaccine becomes available, vaccine will be provided through pharmacies, Public Health clinics and special community vaccination clinics.

Please visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464) for frequent updates about vaccine availability and, once more vaccine arrives, locations where you can get H1N1 vaccinations.

Flu activity

Through its monitoring, Public Health has found that flu activity is rising in King County.

• Emergency department visits for influenza-like illness have been increasing since the beginning of September and are higher than the 2008-09 seasonal flu peak. Emergency department visits have not reached the peak levels observed during the spring H1N1 outbreak.
• In recent weeks hospitalizations for flu have been at a level comparable to the height of the spring H1N1 outbreak.
• Public Health is asking local hospitals to report all patients admitted with influenza of any type. Since the beginning of September, there have been reports of 51 hospitalizations for influenza. Twenty-five of these were confirmed to be H1N1, and most of the others are expected to be H1N1 as well.

When to seek care

Persons with influenza do not need to see a doctor unless their symptoms are unusually severe or if they are at increased risk of severe illness due to an underlying health condition. Most people experience and recover from H1N1 flu without medication just as they do from seasonal flu. When antiviral treatment is necessary, it is most effective if started within 48 hours of the first symptoms of illness.