Another Kern resident has died from complications of H1N1 Flu, and a death attributed to seasonal flu has been confirmed as a H1N1 case, the Health Department reported just before noon Tuesday. There have been 19 H1N1 deaths in Kern County as of Sunday.
Two hundred people have been hospitalized by H1N1, also called Swine Flu, the Health Department reported.
The latest victim was a 55-year-old Bakersfield woman who, like every other victim who has died, had a underlying medical condition that made her particularly susceptible to the flu. Every previous H1N1 death was linked to both the flu and to a pre-existing condition.
Statistics were adjusted to reflect that a local woman in her 50’s, whose death was preliminarily linked to the seasonal flu, actually died of Swine Flu. That final diagnosis was made by laboratories at the state health department. That victim also had an underlying condition.
The Kern Health Department does not release the specific underlying conditions, but as spokesman that term has been defined nationally to include heart disease, lung disease, immune deficiency, diabetes, asthma, obesity and even pregnancy.
The update on statistics came the day after the Health Department announced it had enough H1N1 vaccine for free shots for anyone over 6 months old who wants one and is medically able.
It is critically important for those in high-risk groups to get the shot as soon as possible, said Health Officer Dr. Claudia Jonah. When supplies were limited, only people in those groups could get the vaccine from the Health Department. Now, anyone can get it except babies, for whom the shot is not intended.
The high-rise groups are:
• Children 6 months to 24 years; (10-24 years first & only dose needed and 9 years or younger first or second dose.)
• Pregnant Women;
• Caregivers of children 6 months of age and younger;
• Persons with Underlying Health Conditions 25 years to 64 years; and
• Healthcare Workers and Emergency Medical Workers.”
The shots are available to anyone, for free
A clinic scheduled for Lake Isabella on Tuesday was cancelled because of weather.
Other scheduled clinics are:
• Tuesday, December 8 from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Arvin High School Cafeteria.
o 900 Varsity Road, Arvin, CA
• Wednesday, December 9 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Las Vina Middle School Gymnasium.
o 1331 Browning Road, Delano, CA
• Thursday, December 10 from 1 pm to 4 pm at Las Flores Elementary School Cafeteria.
o 720 West Las Flores Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA
• Thursday, December 10 from 2 pm to 5 pm at the Westside Recreation and Park District Auditorium.
o 500 Cascade Place, Taft, CA
• Friday, December 11 from 1 pm to 4 pm at the Lamont Boys and Girls Club.
o 8301 Segrue Road, Lamont, CA
• Saturday, December 12 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Bakersfield Adult School.
o 501 South Mt. Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
Public Health is planning more clinics through out Kern County and will release those dates and locations as details and vaccine are confirmed.
