Swine flu claims SLO man : Authorities say prevention begins with the cough

MORGAN HOOVER, NEWS-PRESS CORRESPONDENT

August 1, 2009 7:32 AM

A middle-aged San Luis Obispo man died of swine flu, according to a health advisory released from the Public Health Department.

According to the advisory, the man, who had been hospitalized with the H1N1 virus and whose identity will not be released by health officials, had other underlying health conditions that made him susceptible to the illness.

This man is the 81st person to die from swine flu in California, and he is the 699th person to have been hospitalized.

Because it is so widespread, swine flu cases are no longer required to be reported by health department officials unless they are severe enough to cause hospitalization or death.

A vaccine for the virus is in production and may be available by fall or early winter.

It is recommended that to prevent the spread of germs, coughing and sneezing should be done into a tissue or an elbow, hands should be washed often and sick people and large gatherings should be avoided.

A health care provider should be contacted if someone reaches a fever higher than 100 degrees and has a cough or sore throat, if someone has had contact with a confirmed swine flu case, if someone is in a high risk setting for transmission such as a school or camp and if someone is part of a cluster of people with influenza-like illness.

For more information, call the Sate of California's information line at 888-865-0564 or go to flu.gov.