H1N1 still hitting hard this season
By Ellie Bogue
The News-Sentinel
Friday, January 31, 2014
The Indiana Department of Health has reported 11 deaths related to influenza in the past week, with a total of 30 since the start of this flu season. The two hardest-hit counties in the state, Marion and St. Joseph, have reported more than five influenza-related deaths so far.
The Allen County Department of Health is warning residents that this year’s flu, H1N1, seems to be the most dangerous for pregnant women and otherwise healthy adults, which is typically not the population severely affected.
More than 60 percent of hospitalizations nationwide continue to occur in people ages 18 to 64, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of last week, Parkview Regional Medical Center had had 40 flu-related hospitalizations since the start of the season. This week two more individuals were admitted to the intensive care unit.
“We are seeing individuals between the ages of 25 to 55 who have not been vaccinated and are normally healthy people being admitted to intensive care,” said Dr. R. Scott Stienecker, medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention for Parkview Health.
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