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Health officials announce Washington County H1N1 flu death
By James Warden
December 21, 2009

Washington County Public Health officials learned last week that one more resident succumbed to the H1N1 flu.

The death is third Washington County H1N1 fatality.

The victim, who's between 60 and 70 years old, actually contracted the disease in early November and died later that month, said County Epidemiologist Fred Anderson. However, the necessary reports confirming the cause of death can take a few weeks to arrive at the county.

Anderson did not have further details on the victim because the county receives only an age range for those who die from H1N1. Two of those three have been in the 60- to 70-year-old age range, he said.

The news comes as the latest wave of H1N1 is winding down. Clinics are seeing fewer patients with flu-like symptoms, while school absences are down, Anderson said.

But that doesn't mean the virus has run its course, he cautioned. Novel flu strains often begin with an initial "heralding wave," have a second wave like the one over the past few months and then a third wave during the traditional, seasonal flu season, which is just beginning.

"Yes, we're a little bit past the H1N1, at least the second wave," Anderson said. "But the question is whether there's going to be a third wave."

Minn. swine flu deaths rise 1 in past week to 51
12/23/2009

(AP) — MINNEAPOLIS - The death of a Dakota County resident has raised Minnesota's death toll from the swine flu pandemic to 51.

Health officials say the victim was between the ages of 70 and 79 and had an underlying health issue.

The Minnesota Department of Health says the deaths of 51 Minnesotans have been linked to the H1N1 virus since May.

But in its weekly update Wednesday, the department also says flu activity is fading statewide. No schools reported flu outbreaks last week, nor did any long-term care facilities.

Health officials also report that another 63,500 doses of H1N1 vaccine that were distributed in Minnesota have been recalled because tests it's losing potency. The recall involves shipments of FluMist, the nasal spray, distributed to 188 sites across the state.

[...]
Since May there have been a total of 52 H1N1-associated deaths, five unspecified flu deaths, and one influenza B related death - 58 in all. Since May there have also been 1,828 people hospitalized for H1N1.

In its final weekly update for 2009, the Minnesota Department of Health said 54 Minnesotans died from H1N1 since the virus first appeared in the state last spring, and 1,578 were hospitalized with H1N1. Overall, there were 60 flu-related deaths, including one attributed to influenza-B, a different strain, and five from an unspecified strain.

Peak norovirus season underway in Minnesota
Winter in Minnesota is the peak time of year for norovirus, an illness that should be as easy to prevent as one, two three, say health officials.
February 14 2010
[...]
Noroviruses are the most common cause of food-related illness in Minnesota, and reported outbreaks tend to peak during the winter months. That peak time is currently underway in Minnesota. Outbreaks of norovirus illness have been reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in a variety of settings, including commercial food establishments, schools, nursing homes, private homes and hotels.

Symptoms of a norovirus infection can include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, body aches, and sometimes fever. People typically become ill 24 to 48 hours after exposure to the virus, and symptoms usually last one to two days.
[...]

During week 7 influenza activity in Minnesota remained low.

One (1) school reported an outbreak of influenza-like illness during week 7.
No outbreaks due to influenza were reported from long-term care facilities (defined as skilled nursing facilities) this week.
Influenza-like illness visits to outpatient clinics involved in our Sentinel Provider Network remained low this week.
Since September 1st, 2009, there have been 1,547 confirmed novel H1N1 influenza hospitalizations. The total number of novel H1N1 hospitalizations since April 2009 is 1,807.
Since last Wednesday, February 17, no influenza associated deaths were confirmed. Fifty-five (55) influenza A H1N1-associated deaths, three (3) influenza-type unspecified deaths, three (3) influenza syndrome-no influenza testing done deaths, and one (1) influenza B-associated death for a total of sixty-two (62) have been reported since May 2009.
The most common strain of influenza characterized at the MDH PHL has been 2009 influenza A H1N1.

Mar 3, 2010 12:52 pm US/Central MDH Reports 3 More H1N1-Related DeathsST. PAUL (WCCO)

The state Department of Health reported three more deaths associated with swine flu, though the victims actually passed away last autumn.

The health department said the three victims died in October and November, but were only confirmed as H1N1-related in the last week.

There have been no new H1N1-associated deaths in the state for a few weeks now.

Meanwhile, only one school reported a new outbreak of influenza-like illness during the last week, and flu visits at outpatient clinics remained low.

Nonetheless, the Health Departments cautions a third wave of swine flu infections is possible and urges residents to get vaccinated against both kinds of flu.

Historically, the seasonal flu season hits hardest from the middle of February through March. But so far this year in Minnesota, seasonal flu infections have been no more than sporadic.