Austin confirms first H1N1 death, another suspected

[TexasTowelie]

One person is dead in Travis County from H1N1 flu, and a second death is suspected of H1N1, the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department announced today.

That is the same strain that killed nine here in 2009, when the swine flu was classified as a pandemic.

In Montgomery County, the deaths of four people from a flu-like illness are being investigated at Conroe Regional Medical Center. None of them had a flu shot, health officials said. Five others having a similar flu-like illness in Montgomery County are still living, and two of those were confirmed to have H1N1 flu, said Jennifer Nichols-Contella, a spokeswoman for the Montgomery County Public Health District. Investigations into all of those cases are continuing.

Officials are encouraging anyone six months and older to get a flu shot. The H1N1 strain is “a good match with this year’s vaccine,” said Dr. Phil Huang, medical director of the Austin/Travis County health department.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/breaking-news/austin-confirms-first-h1n1-death-another-suspected/ncQyN/ .

[Gothmog]

1. Three deaths due to H1N1 has been confirmed in Harris County

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/H1N1-confirmed-in-3-Harris-Co-deaths-5082754.php?cmpid=bna

The first three deaths from H1N1 virus have been confirmed in Houston, officials with the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences said Friday.

Test results returned Friday that showed the cause of death for three men, ages 45, 50 and 53, was the H1N1 influenza virus, said the agency's spokeswoman Tricia Bentley. One man died Nov. 28, another died the next day and the last man died on Dec. 9.

Two of the three had significant underlying health conditions including hypertensive cardiovascular disease and obesity, she said.