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H1N1 Claims Life of Local Resident

The Mahoning Valley has now lost two residents to complications associated with the H1N1 virus.

The funeral was held on Sunday for Walter Savitts, 44, of Braceville. Savitts died Tuesday at University Hospital in Cleveland.

The Trumbull County man made national news after coming down with the virus and quickly succumbing to respiratory complications.

Earlier this month, Cathleen Wagner, a teacher in the Columbiana Village School District, also died from complications from the H1N1 virus.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The city of Columbus has had its second confirmed pediatric death with an association to H1N1 influenza. ..
A 5-year-old boy died last month, and Columbus Public Health confirmed Thursday that the boy had H1N1 influenza.
The 5-year-old died Friday, Nov 13.
The cause of death has not been filed currently.
Lab reports confirmed the child did have H1N1 influenza, but that doesn’t mean H1N1 was the cause of death, according to CPH’s Jose Rodriguez.
Fourteen-year-old Jon Fowler died Thursday, Oct. 8, after contracting the H1N1 virus.
Fowler’s death was the city’s first local pediatric death from the virus.

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Walter [Savitts] is believed to be the first person from Trumbull County to have died as a result of the H1N1 virus, said Dr. James Enyeart, Trumbull County health commissioner. The department does not receive reports of H1N1 deaths, however, Dr. Enyeart said, so his information comes from only what he’s heard and read in the news.
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Residents are urged to get vaccinated

The Henry County health department announces a resident has died of complications from the H1N1 virus. The 15-year-old male had been hospitalized in critical condition for several weeks before he died.

The health departments urges all county residents to get vaccinated. Clinics are held most days of the week and are by appointment only.

Residents should call 419-592-0037 for an appointment.

Two men die of influenza in Lucas County, one from H1N1
BLADE STAFF

Two middle-aged Lucas County men with other health problems have died from influenza complications, including a 52-year-old cancer patient who had H1N1, according to the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.

Thomas Miles, Sr., of Toledo died of H1N1 complications last month at the University of Toledo Medical Center, formerly the Medical College of Ohio, according to county death filings.

Meanwhile, a 51-year-old man with heart and other health problems recently died from influenza, although his death certificate was not more specific, said Larry Vasko, deputy health commissioner.

Neither man had the H1N1 vaccine as far as the health department could determine, although both were in a high-priority group because they were younger than 64 and had a chronic condition, Mr. Vasko said.

Those with cancer or other illnesses may not be able to get vaccinated, but their family members and others who care for them should be, he said.

“Definitely if you're sick or you're around people who are sick, you need to be vaccinated,” Mr. Vasko said.

The health department began H1N1 clinics this week for everyone who wants them.

The death Nov. 13 of Mr. Miles is the first known fatal H1N1-related case in Lucas County.

Earlier in November, Mandy Kimbler, 24, died of what was complications complications from H1N1 several days after delivering premature twins, but tests for the so-called swine flu have been deemed inconclusive.

Other upcoming open H1N1 clinics in Lucas County are:

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Sylvania United Church of Christ, 7240 Erie St., Sylvania.

Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Whitmer High School, 5601 Clegg Drive, Toledo.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at University of Toledo Scott Park Campus, Toledo.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Springfield Township Hall, 7616 Angola Road, Holland.

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Lourdes College's Franciscan Center, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania.

8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Dec. 28, Dec. 29, Dec. 30, Dec. 31, and Jan. 4 to 8 at both locations of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, at 635 North Erie St. and in the west county office at 330 Oak Terrace Blvd. in Springfield Township.

What's Going Around: the flu is back
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Local death blamed on H1N1 virus
February 4th, 2010
By Shelley Grieshop

The death of a 59-year-old Wapakoneta woman on Friday was due to the H1N1 flu, local health officials have confirmed.

The mother and grandmother, who was not identified by Auglaize County Health Commissioner Charlotte Parsons, died at Lima Memorial Hospital. The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed the death as the result of contracting H1N1 flu, she added.

Parsons would not say whether the woman had underlying health conditions that may have contributed to her death. She cited patient privacy regulations for the lack of information released.

The woman reportedly was admitted as a patient at Joint Township District Memorial Hospital in St. Marys before being transported to the Lima hospital.

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Ohio Department of Health spokeswoman Jen House said the state has confirmed 51 deaths from H1N1. However, most of those represent deaths of children because health officials are not required to report adult deaths from H1N1, she said. The Wapakoneta woman's death was not included in that statewide count, she added.

During Wednesday's meeting of the Mercer County-Celina City Health Department, Administrator Dale Palmer noted that his staff was "consumed" with H1N1 issues for eight of the 12 months of 2009. The department is now considering the purchase of a new phone system because the current one was terribly inadequate last year during the H1N1 outbreak.

"People kept getting busy signals all the time," explained Jason Place, the department's director of emergency response.

The health department continues to offer H1N1 flu vaccine clinics three times per week, but they're now attracting fewer and fewer clients despite the fact the dose is free.

Joyce Jansen, director of nursing and communicable disease coordinator for the local health department, told board members her staff so far has distributed 4,154 doses of the vaccine to 10.13 percent of the county's population. She said the staff has worked to educate the public and she is disappointed with the low percentage of people vaccinated.
County Health Commissioner Dr. Philip Masser agreed.

"It's scary," he said of the response by local residents.

The percentage of the population vaccinated for H1N1 flu in Auglaize County is nearly as low - 10.5 percent or 4,887 doses, Parsons said.

Jansen and Parsons also are concerned with the excess doses of vaccine they have in storage. Jansen said she currently has 6,000 doses to distribute; some of it doesn't expire for a year or more and could be used this fall, she said.

"I predict (most of the current supply) will sit there on the shelf," Jansen said.

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Allen County Monthly Report On Flu Released - 2/5/2010

NOTE: It has been about a month since our last Flu Update for the 2009-2010 Flu Season. There have been no major changes in the flu situation; this is just to update you on the current status in AllenCounty.

Activity Update for AllenCounty, Ohio and Nationally

·Flu activity in Ohio remains at Sporadic. State-wide, physician office visits and emergency room visits for flu-like illnesses are at or below baseline levels.

·Locally, most visits to emergency rooms are for respiratory symptoms and are similar to what we normally see for this time of the year. In addition to respiratory illnesses, school symptom monitoring continues to show gastrointestinal illnesses. This is also typical for this time of the year.

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New type flu hits Grand Lake area
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causing serious bouts of dehydration
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