Health officials have confirmed the 11-year-old South Bend 6th grader from Clay Intermediate who died had the H1N1 virus.
That makes it the fifth probable swine flu death in Indiana and the first in St. Joseph County.
Kelly Jolliff from the St. Joseph County Health Department says the flu is a very serious concern for parents every year; but just because flu activity is increasing in the area, there’s no need to panic.
“We really want to remind parents that the majority of illness that caused by the flu virus is mild,” Jolliff said. People do not require going to the doctor’s offices unless they experience anymore severe symptoms such as fast breathing, difficulty breathing, severe and persistent vomiting, or symptoms that get better and then seem to get worse.”
The nasal spray version of the H1N1 vaccine is in St. Joseph County, but only healthy people ages 2 to 49 should get it. Since the county only has a limited supply right now, about 2,600 doses, they’re trying to target the groups that are most affected by the virus, including household contacts and caregivers to infants less than six months because the infants cannot get the vaccine themselves, and also children between the ages 2 to 18. More shipments of the vaccine are expected each week, and soon, states will be getting the injection version.
You can call your local health care provider or the St. Joseph County Health Department at (574) 235-9750 to determine availability of the H1N1 vaccine or call United Way 2-1-1 to get information about where you can get a seasonal flu vaccine
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