H1N1 flu linked to 48 deaths in Illinois

As of Friday Nov. 13, 48 people in the State of Illionis have died from H1N1 flu, or swine flu, and 1,371 people were hospitalized for the illness, the State Department of Public Health reported. Last week, 12 Illinoisans died from H1N1 flu and 268 were treated at hospitals for the flu.

The state health agency says on its website that H1N1 flu-associated deaths it reported are those with a laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 virus and an illness compatible with a flu diagnosis. Some deaths may be caused by another medical condition, but not influenza.

The statistic data on H1N1deaths released from the department shows the similar mortality pattern observed nationwide, that is, the younger people are at higher risk for being hospitalized while older people are at higher risk of deaths. The ratio of death cases to hospitalization case for those at the age of 24 years or younger is 1.57 percent compared to 5.1 percent of those who were at the age of 50 years or older.

Nationwide, Influenza-like illness resulted in 22,364 hospitalizations and 877 deaths from Aug 21 to Nov 7, 2009.

The state did not report in which counties the H1N1 deaths and hospitalizations were reported.

Melaney Arnold, spokeswoman for the agency, was cited as saying that some health departments have nasal spray vaccine, but still need injectable vaccine. On Oct. 27, Dr. Damon T. Arnold, the agency's director, was urging Illinoisans to be patient in getting the H1N1 flu vaccine.

Illinois has received more than 1.2 million doses of vaccine and county departments received most of it. The state also is ordering H1N1 vaccine for doctors who serve patients at risk for complications.

The Illinoisans who are interested in getting swine flu shots should contact the Chicago Department of Public Health if they live in the city and visit the following sites if they live outside the city of Chicago.

Local health departments – public
Retail pharmacies – public
Physician offices – patients of that physician
Hospitals – hospital staff and patients
Clinics – patients of physicians affiliated with the clinic
Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers (FQHCs) – patients of the FQHC
Long term care facilities – residents and staff
Illinois Department of Corrections facilities – inmates and staff
Illinois Department of Human Services facilities – residents and staff

By David Liu and editing by Sheilah Downey