Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

November 19, 2009

So far, no deaths from swine flu in region

But in other parts of the state, 37 have perished

BY ART BUKOWSKI

TRAVERSE CITY -- Swine flu continues to hospitalize area residents, but health officials haven't recorded a confirmed local death from the disease.

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan covers Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties. Officials there put out a statement Wednesday to counter swirling rumors that the disease is claiming lives in northwest Michigan.

"There's some people that have been sick, and there's rumors, lots of them, that people died of H1N1," spokeswoman Jane Sundmacher said. "We wanted to let everyone know there's been no confirmed (deaths) in our four counties."

The Michigan Department of Community Health reported 37 deaths due to any type of flu since Sept. 1, and the majority were swine flu cases, MDCH spokesman James McCurtis said. But so far, the disease hasn't had a deadly impact in the region.

Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Benzie counties haven't had a confirmed swine flu death, officials there said, though the virus still poses a significant threat.

"It's definitely still around," said Michelle Klein, communicable disease coordinator for the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.

Cases are on the decline in Benzie and Leelanau, Klein said.

"In part I think it's the natural course of the swine flu, and in part (because) we've been able to get out and get some immunizations done," she said.

Grand Traverse Health Department Director Fred Keeslar said a recent round of school closings helped slow the spread of the virus, but it's still responsible for widespread sickness.

Five people were in Munson Medical Center with swine flu symptoms Wednesday, a spokesman said, down from a peak in the teens two weeks ago.

"The message is yes, this retarded the epidemic, but it hasn't extinguished it," Keeslar said. "People shouldn't take solace in thinking it's over with."

It's important to continue to wash hands, seek out vaccinations and stay home when sick, officials said.

"It is still here, and it's still important to do all the things that prevent it, including a vaccination," Sundmacher said.

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