July 29, 2009      

Contact:  Margaret Radford
Office of Communications
Office:     (719) 575-8985 
Cell:     (719) 439-7197

Colorado Springs, CO—A woman in her 40s is El Paso County’s and Colorado’s first reported death likely related to novel H1N1 flu, according to the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment.

“This is sad news, and we want to express our deepest sympathy to this individual’s family,” said Kandi Buckland, R.N., M.P.A., Public Health Director. “We want the public to be aware that H1N1 flu can cause serious illness, and it is important that our residents take steps to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu and to protect themselves and their families.”

H1N1 flu was declared a pandemic in June, meaning that that the virus is spreading worldwide. While H1N1 flu has generally been a mild illness, hospitalization and death related to flu complications does occur. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 302 deaths nationally as of July 24.

“We are focusing our communication efforts on prevention,” Buckland said. “Since a vaccine specifically for novel H1N1 flu is not currently available, the best way for people to protect themselves is through the same public health steps that protect them from many other illnesses.”

Those prevention measures include:

• Stay home if you have respiratory illness or fever.  Keep children home from camp, school and child care if they are ill.
• Wash hands frequently. 
• Cover your sneezes and coughs—cough into your sleeve.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Other important steps that the public should be taking include reviewing or creating a family emergency plan, such as ensuring that you have enough food, medicine and other necessities if you have to remain at home for up to one week.

“This also is a good time for businesses and schools to review their emergency plans to maintain staffing levels and keep critical services in place,” Buckland said.

For more information on H1N1 flu, visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org. Another resource is the Colorado Help Line, (877) 462-2911.