Yuma County man dies from H1N1 complications

The Yuma County Public Health Services confirmed Friday the first death in the county from complications of the H1N1 influenza.

A Yuma County male in his late 40s died Friday of complications from H1N1, otherwise known as swine flu, according to a news release from Yuma County officials.

In the release, Health Director Becky Brooks reminded the public to remain vigilant of the standard protection and prevention measures established to help stay healthy.

"This is not the time to rush to the hospital or other local health care providers," Brooks said. "If you are feeling sick and under normal circumstances, you would not have gone to the emergency room, then you should not go now."

According to a report from the Arizona Department of Health Services for the week ending Oct. 3, there was only one confirmed case of H1N1 in Yuma County during the previous week and 68 total confirmed cases during the 2008-2009 season, out of cases that were confirmed by the state lab or other validated facilities.

Total, the state has 2,263 confirmed cases in the state, according to the report.

This week, Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) announced it will ban children under the age of 18 from visiting the hospital.

The policy states that "as of Monday, Oct. 12, YRMC is changing its guidelines for those who visit patients during the flu season. Visitors must be 18 or older to enter the building. You may be asked for identification. An exception will be made for anyone under 18 who is the parent of a patient or a person receiving services."

Dr. Stewart Hamilton, chief medical officer at YRMC, previously told the Yuma Sun that officials made the move in order to protect children from H1N1 because children are one of the high-risk groups. In addition, he said the move will protect people inside the hospital from possibly catching the disease if a child already has it.

Though hospital officials say the move is temporary, they said they do not have a definite end date for the policy change.

The Yuma County Health Department also announced this week that it received 1,900 doses of the H1N1 vaccine in the nasal spray form, which is approved for children age 2 through adults age 49.

As previously reported by the Yuma Sun, the health department will distribute the vaccine to health care providers who will initially target health care workers and pediatric patients.

In the release Friday from the Yuma County Public Health District, Brooks said she encourages people monitor their condition if they are sick.

"If you are ill and your symptoms become unmanageable contact your primary care physician for guidance," Brooks said.

For more information about H1N1 and/or prevention measures, contact the Yuma County Public Health District at (928) 317-4550 or visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu or www.flu.gov.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Protect and Prevent:

Wash your hands with soap and warm water.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when you sneeze or cough.

If you are sick, stay home from school or work until 24 hours after you no longer have a fever, without the aid of fever-reducing medicines.

Get the seasonal flu vaccine.

Stay informed regarding future H1N1 vaccine availability for your risk group.

Source: Yuma County Public Health District