Woman with H1N1 died in Tippecanoe Co.

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - There has been a death in Tippecanoe County from H1N1.

This is the first death reported in Tippecanoe related to the disease. 

The victim was a 40-year-old woman with one co-morbidity. This means another disease or medical condition was a contributing factor in her death in addition to H1N1.

She died Thursday morning from fulminant respiratory failure at an area hospital. It is not known if she was a Tippecanoe County resident.

News Channel 18 interviewed Tippecanoe County Health Department Administrator Ron Cripe about this death. That video is associated with this story.

The Tippecanoe County Chapter of the American Red Cross has released a free 45-minute presentation to help small business workplaces prepare for possible pandemic flu. You can find out more by viewing this flyer (PDF).

H1N1 cases are typically mild, but the disease can be fatal, especially if other diseases or medical conditions are present.

Basic symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of seasonal flu. They include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Body aches

The Purdue Health Center has offered the following tips to help prevent the spread of H1N1:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cough into your sleeve or a tissue to prevent spreading germs. Do not cough into your hands. Dispose of tissues in a wastebasket.
• Wash your hands with soap under warm running water for 20 seconds and rinse your hands well. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and turn the doorknob. Be sure your hands are dry before directly touching anything.
• Consider getting a vaccination against the seasonal flu. While this will not protect against H1N1, they will protect against previously known flu strains.

To see all local and national coverage of H1N1, visit this page.

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