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Swine Flu Claims Life Of Temple Woman
A 60-year-old woman from Temple is the first Bell County resident to die of the new strain of swine flu, health officials said Thursday.
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16 Comments 
(July 9, 2009)—A 60-year-old Temple woman has become the first Bell County resident to die of swine flu, the Bell County Public Health District said Thursday.
Health officials did not have additional details about the death, which is the second in Central Texas attributed to the swine flu.
Pflugerville resident Ron Stowe, 49, died late last month at Scott & Hospital in Temple.
Stowe was diagnosed with H1N1 flu in mid-June in Round Rock before he was transferred to Temple.
"While we are saddened by this outcome, both seasonal influenza and the novel H1N1 influenza have the potential for substantial illness and additional deaths,” said Dr. Lisa Cornelius, the local health authority for the Bell County Public Health District.
“We should continue to take advantage of opportunities for disease avoidance by washing hands, social distancing, staying home if you feel ill and covering your cough or sneeze,” she said.
The Bell County Public Health District said it has confirmed 172 cases of swine flu in Bell County.
The total number of confirmed cases in Central Texas is more than 250.
The McLennan County Health District confirmed ten cases of swine flu Tuesday.
The most recent state data show 39 confirmed cases in Brazos County, two in Coryell County, one in Falls County, three in Milam County, 34 in Williamson County and two in Hamilton County.
Statewide, about 3,800 cases have been confirmed.
What Is Swine Flu?
The current virus is described as a new subtype of swine flu or A/H1N1 not previously detected in swine or humans. The virus combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before.
How Is It Transmitted?
People cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu. Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs. The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
Swine Flu Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and include:
Fever
Fatigue
Lack of appetite
Coughing
Runny nose
Sore throat
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
What To Do If You Get Sick
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.
In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
(CDC)
Steps You Can Take To Stay Healthy
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze
Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them
(CDC)
Latest Comments
especially to HMMMMMMMMMMM and Anonym. I posted on another Head line about the H1N1 virus about my granddaughter age 5 having the virus, she attends Ralph Wilsons Youth Club........But the real agrivating thing about this is the same week she was diagonosed her brother was confined to Bell County Jail. He was feeling ill the end of the week and we advised them of his being exposed. Took them 4 days to finally take him to the infermery. Thnk God he did not have it but look at how many people he would have exposed if he did. And did The folks at Bell Cty care.........Heck no he probably would have been on of the death if he had because they do not care about the inmates or thier health!
I am interested to see how the schools will address this - I think it is bad enough that adults do stupid things that allow the flu to spread, but it is really going to be tragic if the schools do not help us care for our children until we know more about what this could do or how badly we could be impacted as fall begins and school goes into session.
The woman who passed happened to be one of our good friends mom. 60 is not very old. She probably would have not died if Kings Duaghters had diagnosed her correctly 4 weeks ago when she went in not feeling well. My thoughts and prayers are with her family this weekend as they lay her to rest.
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