Second Sierra Vista area resident dies of swine flu

H1N1 has claimed its second victim from the Sierra Vista area.

On Wednesday, November 25,  the Cochise County Health Department and the Arizona Department of Health Services confirmed a woman in her 50s from the Sierra Vista area died from complications of 2009 H1N1 influenza in late October. As with the first case from this area, the woman had underlying medical conditions.

Through Nov. 14, there have been 103 deaths in Arizona associated with this swine flu strain since the outbreak began last April, health officials report.

“Influenza is serious, especially for those with underlying conditions,” said Vaira Harik, Cochise County Health Department director. “As Cochise County has approximately 2 percent of the state’s population, our mortality rate from H1N1 complications among county residents is in line with what would be expected. This death does not change our course of action.”

State officials work with hospitals to track Cochise County residents who are hospitalized with complications from H1N1.

The delay in reporting the recent H1N1 case is partially attributed to the confirmation process involved in determining whether the person died from the virus, Harik explained.

The Cochise County Health Department has taken proactive steps to keep residents informed of preventive measures to minimize spread of the virus, as well as offering a number of public vaccination clinics for groups considered at high risk from complications of H1N1.

As residents are enjoying friends and family gatherings during the holiday season, health officials are urging everyone to follow a list of universal guidelines to avoid catching or spreading the flu. If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, health officials urge you stay home to prevent spreading their illness.

Meanwhile, the Arizona Department of Health Services is offering an additional opportunity for health care providers across Arizona to register for shipments of H1N1 vaccine, county health officials announced on Tuesday.

Vaccination expansion

Access to H1N1 vaccine will be expanded to more groups locally in December. Detailed information about vaccine availability and upcoming clinics can be accessed by going to www.cochise.az.gov/h1n1 and by calling Cochise County’s H1N1 hot line at 432-9410 for recorded information. Updated information about swine flu in the U.S. can be found online at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. 

Arizona-specific information about swine flu can be found at http://www.azdhs.gov/flu/h1n1/.