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Maine has identified 360 cases of H1N1, which include 19 individuals requiring hospitalization and one individual who has died. Of Maine residents with H1N1, 60 percent have been under 25 years of age. The number of cases is only a barometer of community transmission, not of actual case counts, because not all people with infection are tested.

AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER) -- State health officials say there's been a third death in Maine related to the H1N1 virus.

Dr. Dora Mills, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, says the person is from Penobscot county.

Mills adds that the person was in their 50's and had underlying health issues.

Last week, another person in Penobscot county died after contracting H1N1. That person was in their late teens or early twenties, and also had underlying health issues.

The first person to die in Maine from the virus died back in July, that person was from York and in their 50's.

State officials do not release specific information about patients' identities.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- The death toll from Maine's H1N1 outbreak has risen again.

On Saturday, the Maine Center for Disease Control reported two new deaths over the previous week.

One of the victims was between the ages of 25 and 50 years old and lived in Hancock County. The other victim was older than 65 and lived at a long-term care facility in Kennebec County. CDC officials said both victims had underlying health conditions.

Counting the two most recent fatalities, a total of five people have now died from H1N1 in Maine.

Health officials said they are also responding to an outbreak at a long-term care facility in Kennebec County. All residents and staff are being treated with anti-viral medicine from the state's stockpile. The facility has been closed to visitors.

Maine swine flu deaths increase
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The Maine Center for Disease Control is reporting the deaths of two more people from swine flu, or H1N1 influenza. Seven people have now died from H1N1.

Dr. Dora Mills, director of the Maine CDC says both patients had severe underlying conditions.

One of the victims was older than 65 and from Washington county. The other lived in Washington county and was between 25 and 65 years old. The Maine CDC does not identify people who die from H1N1.
[...]

The Maine CDC does not identify people who die from H1N1.

"It is with great sadness that we have learned of a Penobscot County resident >65 years of age and a Washington County resident 25 – 65 years of age who have died this past weekend. Both had severe underlying conditions," said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Director of the Maine CDC

Two more deaths have been reported due to H1N1 influenza in Maine, bringing the total to seven since August, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention in the Department of Health and Human Services.

"It is with great sadness that we have learned of a Penobscot County resident over age 65 and a Washington County resident between the age of 25 and 65 who have died this past weekend. Both had severe underlying conditions," said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Maine CDC, on Monday, November 23. "While most people with H1N1 in Maine and the nation have had a relatively mild infection, this news demonstrates how severe influenza can be, especially in those with underlying conditions, pregnant women, and children."

In August, a York County man in his 50s was the first Maine resident to be reported to die of the pandemic strain of H1N1. Over the past three weeks, H1N1 has become widespread in Maine and four other adults have died from H1N1. All people who have died thus far in Maine have had underlying conditions, some very serious ones. The previous four deaths include: a young adult from Penobscot County; two adults between the age of 25 and 50, one from Penobscot County and one from Hancock County; and one adult over 65 years of age from Kennebec County. More than 150 schools have experienced outbreaks and several dozen people have been hospitalized.

In a normal flu season in Maine, an estimated 150 people die, about a dozen outbreaks occur in long-term care facilities, and usually fewer than a half dozen schools report high absentee rates.

"People should assume they will be exposed to the H1N1 influenza at some point, and with very limited vaccine supplies in Maine right now, we should all take precautions to prevent serious illness," said Mills. These precautions include: