Second swine flu death verified

Health department officials aren't sure whether a man who died was from Highlands County, or whether he died from the swine flu, but his death was established this week by FloridasHealth.com. He was one of 167 in the state of Florida.

Thomas Moran, a spokesman for Highlands County Health Department, was not allowed to confirm the man's identity or say in which city he lived.

"There is some question as to whether he was a resident of Highlands County," Moran said. The victim may have been a seasonal visitor.

Although the 60-year-old tested positive at the medical examiner's office for swine flu, Moran said he was waiting for an official report before he released information about a swine flu death.

The cause of death hasn't been confirmed, but a swine flu-related death was reported on the Florida Department of Health Web site. Moran said the man died last month, but FloridasHealth.com showed the statistic as deaths between Nov. 10 and Nov. 17.

Either way, Moran said people don't have to worry whether they contracted flu from the man. By now, they would know they had the flu.

"They would have been sick and well by now," Moran said.

Around Florida

The hotbed of the flu is still Miami-Dade, with 401 hospitalizations; Broward, with 88, and Palm Beach, with 84. They comprise more than half of Florida's 1,082 total hospitalized cases. Orange County has reported 98 hospitalizations.

Locally, six people have been hospitalized in Highlands, two in Hardee, one in Okeechobee, and 23 in Polk.

At this point, people should be more concerned about the seasonal flu.

"Overall activity for influenza-like illness remains well above expected levels for this time of year," FloridasHealth.com said. "In many areas, it exceeds levels seen at the peak of normal influenza season, and exceeds the initial surge."

The majority of the increase in ER visits with flu symptoms is occurring in younger age groups, the Web site said. In the last 3-4 weeks, the percent of ER visits has either stabilized or has declined, depending on the region and age group. Hospital admissions due to flu symptoms are highest in those younger than 20 years old.

Swine flu statistics are declining in the number of cases reported, Moran said.

"The number of ER visits has stabilized or gone down," Moran said. "But there's an additional wave coming in January, we're being told. So this is going to be with us until the springtime."

In September, when 14-year-old Marquis Hamilton's death was confirmed in Sebring, people were told that if they had the flu, it was swine flu, because the seasonal flu hadn't show up yet.

"Now, there is some seasonal flu detected," Moran said.

Flu shots

Vaccines have been distributed in four clinics at the local schools, Moran said.

"We are trying to target at-risk groups, we'll open it to the general population," Moran said.

He still isn't certain whether the vaccine will be available this year at drug stores and doctor's offices.

"A lot depends on how many show up for vaccinations," Moran said. Fewer people than predicted came to the school clinics. Of the 1,167 respondents to a Highlands Today poll, only 25 percent said they plan to get a swine flu shot.

2009 Swine flu deaths in Florida:
Age - Number
0-4 - 5
5-24 - 18
25-49 - 70
50-64 - 60
65+ - 14
Total: 167
Source: www.floridashealth.com