H1N1 flu virus causing deaths in healthy people

By Mary Manning

Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 | 2:22 p.m.

The novel H1N1 influenza virus is causing deaths in people who have no underlying illnesses or chronic conditions, health authorities said today.

Almost half of the 822 flu- and pneumonia-related deaths linked to H1N1 from Aug. 30 to Sept. 19 involved victims less than 56 years old, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. Seasonal flu usually affects mostly the elderly.

For example, a 33-year-old man whose death was reported in Clark County in July had no other health problems, the Southern Nevada Health District said.

In Nevada, there have been 14 deaths related to the H1N1 flu since it was announced in the United States on April 26. Eleven deaths have been reported in Clark County, two in Washoe County and one from the state's 15 rural counties, the Nevada State Health Division said.

Since April, Nevada has confirmed 1,677 cases of H1N1 flu, state health officials said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health officials cannot track every H1N1 incident of flu, said Stephanie Bethel of the Southern Nevada Health District.

The health district, like its federal counterpart, has identified underlying medical conditions among patients hospitalized with the novel influenza, including diabetes, respiratory conditions, heart disease, cancer or other immune-suppressing illnesses, Bethel said.

"What we are seeing is that H1N1 is dominant in our community as is the case nationally," Bethel said.

Nevada is among 37 states reporting widespread flu activity as of Tuesday.

Almost a third of the deaths related to the H1N1 influenza are linked to bacterial pneumonia, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the CDC. There is a vaccine available to prevent that strain of pneumonia, she said, but one in five people who should take the shot are getting it.

"This virus," Schuchat said, referring to H1N1, "can be serious even with no underlying conditions."

While Nevada and other states have only received FluMist, the nasal spray vaccine for H1N1, half of the next shipment of vaccines expected to arrive in Nevada after Oct. 18 will be distributed by injections.

The H1N1 vaccine has been made just as seasonal influenza immunizations are made, so it is safe and can help prevent or avoid serious symptoms from the novel virus, Schuchat said.