H1N1 flu blamed for children's deaths

SANTA FE (KRQE) - H1N1 flu blamed for children's deaths

Two children from Roosevelt and Sandoval counties have died from the H1N1 flu virus, the state Department of Health reported late Thursday.

Neither child--an infant girl from Roosevelt County and a 5-year-old girl from Sandoval County--had chronic underlying medical issues, according to the DOH which released no additional details on either case.

"These tragic events should remind all New Mexicans that flu can be a serious and sometimes deadly disease," state Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil said in a statement released by DOH.

Prior to the DOH announcement a spokesperson for the Rio Rancho Public Schools said a 5-year-old girl at Rio Rancho Elementary School had died earlier this week. Preliminary test results indicated she died from H1N1 commonly called swine flu, the spokesperson said.

The DOH typically identifies disease victims only by county, age and gender, so its news release Thursday did not confirm the Sandoval County girl and the Rio Rancho student were the same.

There now have been seven confirmed H1N1-related deaths in the state, according to DOH. Those included four middle-aged adults with chronic medical conditions and a 21-year-old woman who otherwise was healthy.

The DOH said it has begun shipping vaccine against the seasonal flu to public health offices, state long-term care facilities and private providers. However the H1N1 vaccine is not expected to arrive until the middle of the month.

The Department is advising the following high risk groups get vaccinated today against seasonal flu:

• Residents of long-term care facilities
• Persons ages 2-64 years with chronic health conditions, such as asthma or other breathing problems, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, muscle or nerve disorders that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems, and children on long-term aspirin therapy.
• Children age 6 months through age 18
• Persons ages 50 years and older
• Pregnant women
• Health-care workers who provide direct patient care
• Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children up to age 5, or anyone at increased risk of flu complications

Information about scheduled flu shot clinics is available from Nurse Advice New Mexico toll-free at 866-681-5872. Public health offices are listed in the phonebook’s blue pages under state government and on the DOH Web site .

Additionally the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center has scheduled free weekend flu-shot clinics for the season flu vaccine. H1N1 shot clinics will be announced later.