County announces first death from H1N1 (Swine) Flu

In a press release, the county of Sacramento has announced the first death in its jurisdiction from H1N1, better known as Swine Flu. The death occurred today. It is just the ninth death from the disease in California.

The decedent is identified as being a 24-year-old woman who died in the UC Davis Medical Center. There were no other details about the individual.

The announcement came from Sacramento County Public Health Officer Glennah Trochet, M.D.

Dr. Trochet offered advice on actions people should take to deter spread of the illness:

• Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze, preferably with a tissue. Dispose of the tissue after each use. If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth by coughing into your elbow or sleeve, not your hand.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, even after washing your hands.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home from work or school if you are sick.

Taking precausions like the above are particularly important in Homeless World Sacramento because many of us are not particularly careful when we sneeze or cough and because we are in close quarters when we eat and sleep.

UPDATE 6/24: A Sac Bee article, today, reveals some information about the flu victim. Her name is Beth Kizere. She had just returned to the Sacramento area following a trip to Las Vegas when she came down with symptoms that seemed to indicate pneumonia. It took awhile before tests were done to determine the specific disease Kizere suffered from.

The young woman's mother told the Bee reporter "her daughter had been in good health before the Las Vegas trip and that she suffered from no chronic illnesses, unlike other victims of the virus."