17 January 2014 (15:40 UTC-07 Tango)/15 Rabi ‘al-Awwal 1435/27 Dey 1392/17 Gui-Chou (12th month) 4711
Belize: Health officials confirm three people infected with H1N1. One of those, a 29 years old mother, has died. There are several other people showing flu symptoms, but testing has been negative.
Alberta, Canada: Provincial health officials are dealing with a vaccine shortage. They are now rationing the remaining flu shots in case of large outbreaks or for use in children under nine years of age only. 15-thousand vaccines are on order.
British Columbia, Canada: Kootenay health officials report nine confirmed cases of H1N1. The Kelowna General Hospital reports they had to induce a coma in one 55 years old woman because of H1N1. The family thinks she got infected while on vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada U.S.A.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: One person confirmed killed by H1N1. 16-thousand vaccinations are on order. 13-thousand people have already been vaccinated.
Spain: Health officials report two elderly men died from H1N1. At least 43 people hospitalized, with 18 under intensive care.
California, U.S.A.: In Fresno, a federal court judge has suspended all cases involving inmates from the Fresno County Jail. This is because of an H1N1 outbreak in the jail, that’s already killed one inmate. In Milpitas, the Elmwood Correctional Facility reports an H1N1 outbreak. The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services confirmed one man died of H1N1. Solano county reports a person with chronic health problems was killed by H1N1. The county also reports ten new flu cases. Tulare County reports a woman died from H1N1. Kings County reports that three people have now died from H1N1. The USN is also encouraging all military personnel in the area to get vaccinated. At this point at least 49 people in the Golden State have died from influenza, and another 50 deaths are being investigated “….and we’re still not at the peak of the season. This seems to be a season where more deaths are being reported.”-Gil Chavez, state epidemiologist
Idaho, U.S.A.: In Burley, a High School student showed up for school but became so sick he had to be picked up before lunch by his mom. She took him to the doctor who immediately diagnosed him with H1N1. The school was notified and they went into scrubdown mode. At least 50 other students were already out sick.
Indiana, U.S.A.: State Department of health says the number of influenza deaths are now at 11. Last week it was three.
Louisiana, U.S.A.: “Our flu activity right now is very elevated. The usual baseline is around 2.5% and we are well over 7%.”-Timothy Haman, CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital
Michigan, U.S.A.: In Kent County it was confirmed that three people died from H1N1.
Nebraska, U.S.A.: Hall County reports two H1N1 cases.
New York, U.S.A.: Onondaga County Health Commissioner reports two deaths caused by H1N1.
Ohio, U.S.A.: In Athens County, it was revealed that a 32 years old woman who died from H1N1 got the flu shot before getting sick. Doctors are baffled as to why she died: “We don’t know why she died. So far there are no answers, and that’s often the case….I’m at a loss to explain it.”-James Gaskell, Athens City-County Health Department
Oklahoma, U.S.A.: Department of Health reports 12 influenza deaths, 399 hospitalizations.
Oregon, U.S.A.: In Salem, a 52 years old woman didn’t recover. She died from H1N1, after being diagnosed with bronchitis! Hospitals are reporting that they are getting close to overcrowding with the number of influenza patients. In Bend, officials with Saint Charles hospitals say if the crowding gets worse they will have to send Oregonians to hospitals in Idaho, Nevada or Washington.
Washington, U.S.A.: In Vancouver, a 4 years old boy almost died because doctors failed to test him for influenza. What’s even more unusual is that doctors tested his grandmother and another adult relative for the virus. His grandmother says she demanded he be tested for H1N1 but says the clinic refused! They were all sick, but have since recovered. A doctor told a local TV station that flu tests are expensive and the clinic was probably trying to save money!