Rhiza Labs FluTracker Forum

I've been floowing some updates about a young lady who is best friends with a girl from my church. She was pregnant and contracted H1N1. The baby delivered premature, and is doing ok, but the mom was very ill. She eventually was placed on ECMO, but sadly passed away last night. Another case of milder than seasonal flu for you. :x Just damn.

This is the obituary for the young lady I mentioned in the personal accounts thread. No mention of H1N1 in the obit and no local news story that I can find.

Ashley L. Clark
Bucks County Courier Times
Ashley L. Clark passed away on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009. She was 24.

After growing up in Lower Bucks County, Ashley moved on to Millersville University to continue her studies.

A lifelong musician and performer, Ashley had a deep love of life and music and will be remembered for her creativity as well as being a supportive friend and most loving daughter and sister.

Ms. Clark is survived by her newborn daughter, Emma Rose; her mother, Kathleen Clark; her sister, Amy Mangle and her husband, Chris; her niece, Krya Mangle; her nephew, Benjamin Mangle; and her loving partner, Patrick Carr.

A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, in Heritage Chapel at George Washington Memorial Park, 80 Stenton Ave., Plymouth Meeting, where relatives and friends are invited to call after 10 a.m. Interment will follow in the park.

In lieu of flowers, Ashley's family asks that memorial donations be made to the Ashley Clark Memorial Fund, 517 Gibbons St., Scranton, PA 18505. Kirk and Nice Funeral Home,

Plymouth Meeting

http://www.kirkandnicefuneralhomes.com
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/o ... clark.html

[...]

In Bucks County, where more than 770 swine flu cases have been confirmed, there are no seasonal flu cases yet, health department Director Dr. David Damsker said. Neighboring Montgomery County Health Department, where nearly 1,000 residents had confirmed swine flu, only three cases of seasonal flu have been verified since September.

[...]

Pennsylvania's flu activity has dropped significantly in recent weeks from widespread to local, as of the week ending Dec. 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance. Overall flu cases reported in the state dropped nearly in half - to 157 down from 399 the previous week. All state regions saw a decline in flu cases.

[...]

Flu cases unusually scarce in Erie County
Experts warn season's not over
By DAVID BRUCE
February 10. 2010

Saint Vincent Health Center patients aren't gasping for breath this winter.

That fact pleases and surprises Howard Nadworny, M.D., Saint Vincent's chief of infection control.

"We're not seeing any flu and not much respiratory illness at all," Nadworny said. "That's unusual for this time of year."

The month of February is considered prime flu season in northwestern Pennsylvania. Saint Vincent and other local hospitals are often filled with patients suffering from the flu and its complications, such as pneumonia.

This flu season is different, however. Only one case of influenza has been reported in Erie County since late December.

You can thank the H1N1 virus.

About 1,600 flu cases were reported to the Erie County Department of Health in October and November, when H1N1 -- commonly known as swine flu -- swept through the country.

It was an intense, early flu season. Doctors and public-health officials expected another wave of flu to peak during the winter, but that doesn't seem to be happening.

Only sporadic flu cases were found in Pennsylvania last week, and no U.S. state is reporting widespread cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We're in a waiting pattern," said Rich Knecht, R.N., director of public health preparedness for the county Health Department. "All indications are that H1N1 is in decline, but I'm not ready to say that we won't see any more flu this winter."
[...]

Seasonal flu goes missing this year
[...]
Last year, the state saw more than 2,700 confirmed cases of seasonal flu. Not every flu case is tested. This year, it has seen fewer than 100.
[...]
Lancaster General Hospital did about 200 flu tests in January and February. Only six came back positive.

At Lancaster Regional and Heart of Lancaster Regional medical centers, no one has tested positive for the seasonal flu.

Doctor's offices and nursing homes also are seeing little to none of the seasonal flu.
[...]