Published: November 02, 2009 10:49 am      

Knox reports second H1N1 death

By Becky Manley / Staff Writer

Knox County has had its second H1N1 influenza related death, health officials announced Friday.

The Knox County resident who died — a woman in her 30s with underlying health conditions — is the second confirmed H1N1 related death in the Tri-County.

Statewide, four more confirmed H1N1 related deaths have been reported by local health departments during the past week, officials from the Kentucky Department for Public Health said during a telephone briefing for the media.

The other three dead are a man in his 30s from Hardin County, a woman in her 50s from McCreary County and a man in his 50s from Madison County.

The deaths bring the statewide H1N1 related death toll to 14, health officials said.

Of the 14 deaths, 11 people were among the groups a Centers for Disease Control committee recommended as most vulnerable to complications from the H1N1 influenza strain.

It is estimated that half of Kentucky’s population falls into those CDC established groups, state health officials said.

The state continues to experience widespread flu activity, state health officials said. The number of flu cases has reached the peak normally seen in February, traditionally the height of the flu season.

Testing at the state lab confirms that the H1N1 virus continues to be the predominant flu strain circulating, health officials said. Most who become ill from the flu recover without seeking treatment.

State officials said Kentucky is getting vaccine shipments more quickly, although demand still far outpaces supply. The state continues to allow local health departments to determine how to distribute the vaccine they receive.

As of Thursday, Kentucky has been allocated over 342,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, state health officials said. So far, 215,000 doses have been shipped.

General information about the H1N1 influenza can be obtained 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily by calling 1-877-843-7727. The state offers information about the H1N1 and seasonal flu at healthalerts.ky.gov or follow KYHealthAlerts on Twitter.