For a while now, the flu has been sweeping across north Texas and claiming many victims, including the deaths of 19 people - three of whom were from the Denton County. The most recent was a woman in her 80s from Highland Village who was suffering from other health conditions and died after catching the flu.
According to Juan Rodriguez, Denton County Health Department chief epidemiologist, the 2009 H1N1 virus is the main issue at hand. It continues to circulate violently in Denton County and other areas of north Texas. "If the H1N1 virus continues to circulate widely, illness that disproportionately affects young and middle-aged adults may occur this season," stated Rodriguez last Friday.
For the week ending on January 4, the Denton County Health Department announced that there were 237 newly reported flu cases - an improvement from the previous week when there were 265 reported cases. And those were just reported cases - there are probably plenty of other cases that just haven't gone to a hospital or seen a doctor.
All residents of Denton County and the surrounding areas are strongly advised to get immunized for the flu, to practice good health habits, to wash one's hands religiously, and to stay at home in the case of catching the flu in order to protect individual and community health.
I'm surprised that so many people have died from the flu, and that the number of people with serious conditions is so high. Hopefully it will die down before too long - and I sure hope I won't catch it either!
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/Denton-County-Reports-Third-Flu-Associated-Death-239678111.html
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