8th H1N1 Fatality

From the City of El Paso Department of Public Health:

El Paso, Texas – A 75-year-old woman from Central El Paso became the county’s 8th 2009 H1N1 influenza-related fatality, the City of El Paso Department of Public Health reported today.

The woman had underlying medical conditions and was recently hospitalized with an influenza-like illness. Laboratory tests confirmed she had the H1N1 virus.

The Department of Public Health would like to reassure the public that it is continuing its surveillance of influenza-like illnesses in El Paso County, and is working in close partnership with health care providers, hospitals, and other organizations to monitor the spread of the virus.

To prevent the spread of the flu, healthcare providers in El Paso County have ordered more than 600,000 H1N1 vaccine doses. The Department of Public Health ordered 27,000 vaccine doses and is preparing to begin distributing them at its five clinics in early November.

Citizens can protect themselves from getting and spreading the flu by:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

For more information about H1N1 Flu the public may call 2-1-1.