Two Dead in East Texas from H1N1

TYLER � Although the World Health Organization announced the H1N1 pandemic ended in August 2010, the virus has lingered ever since and even killed recently. KETK reports that out of the reported cases in the East Texas area, two people have died, both in Gregg County. As of week 49, or December 2-8 of this year, more than 40 East Texas cases of H1N1 showed positive results through a “rapid test.” While the rapid test is usually accurate, it can produce a false negative. Therefore, the true number of cases is not known, according to the Northeast Texas Public Health District’s Director of Public Health Preparedness, Russell Hopkins.

Hopkins believes the dramatic increase in H1N1 can be attributed to several factors. “I believe that the evidence points to weather. The icy weather drove everyone indoors. People are out shopping, people are out doing things, but they are also being driven inside because of rain or sleet or whatever. So, now, they are in close proximity of each other. That’s how it spreads.” According to Hopkins, Texas moved from “widespread” to “full activity” in the past week, which means the number of counties affected changed from “most” to “all.” In the East Texas Region, all 35 counties are affected.

Health officials have stressed to the public to get a vaccine, which still covers the H1N1 strain left over from 2009. More importantly, people are encouraged to wash their hands, clean surfaces, and stay home when sick. Physicians have been asked to attack things differently from 2009-2010. This time around, patients will be given the antiviral almost immediately for better prevention, said Hopkins.