H1N1 Flu Emergency Declared in Sacramento

H1N1 Flu Emergency Declared in Sacramento
November 04, 2009 12:24 PM

SACRAMENTO, CA - Following scores of confirmed H1N1 flu cases and 14 deaths in Sacramento since April, the city Board of Supervisors approved a local emergency declaration Tuesday to help the county deal with the growing public health epidemic.
The proclamation, approved at Tuesday's board meeting will allow the county to proactively allocate resources in case the H1N1 virus shows any significant further upswings in Sacramento County, according to Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Glennah Trochet.

"This local emergency declaration will allow flexibility to government, response and private health agencies to help us deal with the ongoing pandemic," Trochet said.

While thousands in Sacramento County have contracted and recovered from H1N1 since the first case of the virus was detected locally in late April, more than 300 Sacramento residents have been hospitalized for H1N1 complications, according to the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services. H1N1 is also being blamed for 14 Sacramento-area deaths.

Residents were advised to check with their regular healthcare provider to see if the H1N1 vaccine is available through them. The County will also be operating a series of more than 40 free vaccination clinics beginning November 16.

The clinics will target priority groups most susceptible to the virus, including pregnant women, healthcare workers, people caring for infants under 6 months old, children and young adults 6 months to 24 years old, and adults 24 to 64 years old with underlying medical conditions.

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