Snohomish County man dies from swine flu (WA)

[uppityperson]

Source: Stl Times

A Snohomish County man has become the first person in Washington state to die from complications due to the swine flu, health officials announced today. The death is only the third in the U.S. from the flu; the other two were in Texas. Forty-two people have died from the flu in Mexico.

The Snohomish County man, who officials said was in his 30s, had an underlying heart condition. He became sick on April 30 and died Wednesday from what appears to be complications of swine-origin influenza (H1N1), officials with the state Department of Health said.

Officials would not release his name nor say where in Snohomish County he lived. The announcement came this evening at the state Department of Health's offices in Shoreline. "We're working with local and federal partners to track this outbreak," Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said in a news release. "And while most illnesses from this new flu strain have been fairly mild, we must remember that influenza claims about 36,000 lives every year nationwide. That's why we urge people to take this outbreak, and the seasonal flu we see every year, very seriously."

Earlier today, the Health Department announced that an additional 18 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Washington, bringing the state's total to 101. The Department of Health said that another 19 cases are considered probable for swine flu....

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009201836_webswineflu09m.html

[MadMaddie]

1. I live in Snohomish County.....

He was pretty young, good grief.

[liberalmuse]

2. That is sad. I live in Snohomish County.

I guess as with all flu's, the most vulnerable are hardest hit. :(

[uppityperson]

3. Excellent article on swine flu, history, possible predictions, etc...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009200640_apmedswineflupivotalmoments.html

The most pivotal moments in the swine flu saga are yet to come. Will it sweep through impoverished Southern Hemisphere countries in the next few months? Will it roar back in the rest of the world in the fall? And who will be vaccinated if it does? In the weeks since swine flu grabbed international attention, and even years before that, some important actions have helped shape the course of this outbreak and the ways the world will handle future epidemics. It's not clear if this new swine flu strain is a brush fire, sparking up around the globe only to fizzle, or if it will worsen when the regular influenza season hits. No matter how this story ends, at the very least it has offered a real-world drill to find gaps in the playbook.

"We've been given an opportunity to take a look at this before it really got bad, and we need to," said Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota, a prominent pandemic flu specialist. "We better damn well do it now because one day we are going to really be in it for more than a week. If it's not this virus, there will still be another one."

For this virus, the coming months will bring a series of big decisions: Do manufacturers start brewing millions of swine flu vaccine doses? Will they be stockpiled unless the new flu returns or given along with or soon after regular flu shots? Will rich countries share enough with the developing world? Who gets in line first - the younger people that this strain so far seems to target or the elderly who usually are flu's most vulnerable?

"You may only have one chance to get out ahead of it," Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press. "It's important for people to understand that all of these decisions will need to be made with incomplete science."...(much more, a very good article)

[elocs]

4. For perspective, in the 2008-09 flu season 193 people in Seattle died from the flu.

In Tacoma 130 people died from the flu.
In Spokane 159 people died from the flu.

So just in those three Washington state cities 482 people died as the result of the flu during the regular 2008-09 flu season.

That's 482 people.

[uppityperson]

6. Thank you, the perspective is good. Seriously, thank you. nt

[Oregone]

7. So, then lets calculate the mortality rates for some more perspective

How many incidences of the standard flu vs the swine flu. Now, divide deaths by cases

[uppityperson]

9. That is difficult since most people with influenza don't get tested for positive diagnosis

I get influenza every couple yrs (working with whom I do) yet have never had a test for a positive diagnosis. Same with Hini flu, there are probably a lot who have it, or had it, and didn't get diagnosed.

[Oregone]

11. Well, at this point, ANY comparison is difficult.

But the estimates put flu cases at 10% to 33% of the population per year. This put the fatality rate below .1% (some numbers indicate .03%).

We don't have enough evidence on the Swine Flu at all the calculate the mortality rate. Early indications are that it is above .1%. The Spanish Flu was around 2-5% mortality rate

Im just saying, this is important for "perspective". Yes, the swine flu has not killed as many as the normal flu, BUT, it may have a much higher mortality rate (and it may not). That (and its ability to spread) are better measure of how dangerous (or potentially so) that a virus can be. Gross numbers are useless.

No one should be claiming the standard flu is more dangerous than ebola, just because it kills more per year. I don't think anyone should be cherry picking stats here to argue the same. No one knows now. But the last thing I would want to do is tout numbers in support of its benign nature, leading people to not take precautions. There is more to the picture than gross fatalities. If as many people contract swine flu this winter as the standard flu, AND the mortality rate remains higher, you will see a large, huge problem.

[uppityperson]

13. I think we are in agreement on all of that. Will be watching what happens

with it this fall and next yr. It is very much not as simple as some people would like it to be. I understand the eyerolling after the media hysteria, and after yrs of getting lied to by the administration, but it is not simple.

[hedgehog]

10. I think your numbers show why getting a flu shot every year is so important.

Even if you can handle the flu, why be part of a chain that passes it on to someone who can't?

[elocs]

12. Personally I have never had a flu shot and I'm not sure if I have ever had the flu.

I wonder for those who can so casually advise people to stay home if they are sick regardless if they can afford to stay home at all, how long a person is contagious before they even realize they are sick at all? Even if most people simply sneeze or cough without feeling really ill I'm sure they don't think, "My God, I'm sick and may be contagious! I had better stay home!"

[uppityperson]

15. I cannot afford to get sick, so I ask my clients to not come in if they are sick

I ask them to please stay home instead if they have a fever, aching, respiratory issues, typical signs/symptoms of influenza. Most of them are considerate enough to realize that coming to see me when they are sick will make me sick, and I really cannot afford that.

[elocs]

16. But for how long are they contagious before they even know they are sick?

That's the fly in that ointment. I wonder how much illness is spread by those who don't even realize they are sick?

[dixiegrrrrl]

17. Latest CDC said it has 24-48 hour incubation period.

Which is why all these stories of eyeballing airplane passengers, cruise passengers, etc.
make no sense. All you will find is sick people who are sick, not people who are
incubating the virus then go on to their jobs/homes, etc. and start coughing 2 days later.

[uppityperson]

20. There is that, but once you realize you are sick, please stay home and don't infect me

I really can't afford to lose another week of work also.

Once you realize you are sick, there is no reason to be spreading it further.

We need to have more paid sick days available, for those who get such things.

As a self employed person, if one come in sick and I get whatever you have, I am off a week, without pay. I ask my customers to please have enough respect for me to not expose me once they get sick, or if they suspect they are getting sick (that 24-48 hrs before severe symptoms tart)

[uppityperson]

14. It is now daytime and my head is clearer so wanted to reply more to you

First, where did you get those numbers from? I like to watch health/disease statistics and would appreciate a local source.

At this point you probably stand more risk of dying in a car accident than the flu. However, look at car accident statistics and you find that you have a higher risk of being in an accident within 10 miles of home. Do people somehow get to be better drivers the further from home they are? Or does this mean that they do the vast majority of their driving within 10 miles of home?

Statistics and perspective are both very good things to have, but they can be manipulated also.

I do not thing running aroung "OMG WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE" helps anything, and isn't necessary. But I also am very glad that WHO and CDC and other public health people are keeping an eye on an unusual virus and will take what precautions they suggest next fall as far as vaccines.

[roseBudd]

18. Yes but were they in their 30s or were they like 80 & living in a nursing home

[xchrom]

5. recommend

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

8. Geeze,

I'm a Snohomish County resident also............. :think:

[Joe2131]

19. Overated

This flu is just another excuse for republicans to take over

[uppityperson]

21. Says the dead troll