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Escambia County Man Dies From H1N1
November 10, 2009
The Escambia County Health Department has announced the first laboratory-confirmed H1N1 swine flu death in Escambia County.
Monday night, the health department announced the death of an adult male with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 virus as well as underlying medical conditions.
“Our sympathies are with this individual’s family and friends,” said Dr. John Lanza, director of the Escambia County Health Department.
In Florida, 149 deaths have been reported in individuals with laboratory-confirmed H1N1.The health department encourages every resident to know the signs and symptoms of H1N1, treatment, emergency medical warning signs, and how to prevent the disease.
Signs & Symptoms
Common symptoms of influenza are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and in the case of the H1N1 virus, diarrhea and vomiting.
Treatment
Most individuals who become sick with H1N1 flu will recover by caring for themselves at home although there are individuals at higher risk (see below). Individuals who think they have influenza should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medication or if they need to seek medical care. At-home treatment includes:
- Get plenty of rest
- Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
- Cover coughs and sneezes. Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.
Prevent H1N1
While vaccination continues for most of the federally-designated priority groups, residents not in those priority groups, can take the following steps to prevent H1N1 until vaccine is available to them.
- Wash your hands often and the right way. Rub soapy hands together for 15 seconds (if you need a timer, imagine singing the “ABC’s” song). Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and touch the bathroom doorknob.
- If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Wash your hands after using the bathroom, before and after preparing food, before and after taking care of someone who is sick, after changing diapers or cleaning up after a child who has gone to the bathroom, after handling an animal or animal waste, after touching potentially contaminated surfaces such as public door knobs, cart handles and money, and when your hands are visibly dirty.
- Stay home if you are sick. Keep children home if they are sick. Stay home until 24 hours after last fever without fever reducing medications. Avoid others who are sick.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue. If you don’t have a disposable tissue handy, cover or sneeze into the fabric on your sleeve.
- Get your seasonal flu vaccination. As long as there is seasonal flu vaccine available, it is strongly recommended that individuals get their seasonal flu shot as well as the “pneumonia shot” for individuals with chronic disease and individuals 65 years and above.
Comments
9 Responses to “Escambia County Man Dies From H1N1”
okay guys…for the few of you who hear about a h1n1 death and ask the DUMB question; “WHAT COUNTY WAS THE PERSON FROM?” Stop it….you are very ignorant and need to read up on your facts. It matters not where the person was, this thing is AIRBORN!! We are not dealing with the cooties here people. All you have to do is be in the same room as that person. And do you actually think these people affected are gonna walk around with a sign on their back saying “I AM INFECTED” NO! Therefore there is nothing we can do except protect ourselves and our families and not worry about who has it and where. If your sons or daughters had it in your own households what are you gonna do…move out and leave them there?!! Get real guys…get real.
If the Health Department won’t tell us what community has a rabid cat running around, there’s no way they’re going to reveal this person’s name!
The health department did not release the man’s name, and they will not release what community or town he lived in.
My thoughts and prayers are with this mans family. Does anyone know who passed away? The PNJ hasn’t even reported that a man has died from H1N1.
On the other hand marie, the vast majority of people who get this virus will suffer no major ill effects. Many of us have already been exposed to it and don’t even know it. Don’t panic.
thats right @ me. i work at a pharmacy in pensacola and have seen so many people with it. very scary!
It really doesn’t matter what part of the county this person is from. You probably passed someone today who had it. The virus is all over.
Ok will anyone know what part of escambia county fl he was from..my thoughts and prayers are with the family…
There was a cartoon in the AJC: a bunch of trick or treating kids were on a doorstep. Uncle Sam was standing in the doorway holding an empty bowl that said “H1N1 vaccine”. He was telling the kids to “Come back around Thanksgiving”.