Sonoma County's latest swine flu death was among the few remaining local residents still hospitalized for the illness at the start of the year.
As with the 10 other local residents who have died of H1N1-related illnesses, county public health officials revealed little information about the man. They said only that he was in his mid-30s, had significant underlying health problems and spent more than a month in a hospital before he died in early February.
"Our hearts go out to the family," said Dr. Mark Netherda, the county's deputy public health officer. "That is a very long time for the family to go through that type of suffering."
He said the death is a reminder of the severity of H1N1, "but it's not an indicator that it's coming back or that we're seeing a resurgence."
Since H1N1 first came to Sonoma County last May, an additional 149 people have been hospitalized, with 30 requiring intensive care.
By mid-December, the number of people transported to county hospitals for a flu-related illness - almost all of it H1N1 - dropped to about one or two a week.
A curious trend began to develop at a time when the regular flu season should have been ramping up. For five weeks, from Jan. 15 to Feb. 20, there were no reported H1N1 hospitalizations in the county. The traditional flu season ends in about a month.
Even so, the county public health division is pushing ahead with its flu clinics, just to be on the safe side.
Beginning today and continuing through March 27, the health department will hold free, H1N1 vaccine clinics from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays at Coddingtown Mall and Santa Rosa Plaza.
The clinics are open to everyone 6 months and older and are an opportunity for children under 10 who have received their first dose of vaccine to receive their second and final dose, Netherda said.
Despite the drop in flu cases, health officials urge residents to get vaccinated and to continue taking steps to prevent the spread of H1N1, seasonal flu and viruses that cause the common cold.
These practices include washing your hands frequently, covering your cough, keeping children home if they're sick or, for adults, staying home.
"We don't know if it's going to come back, we really don't," Netherda said.
He noted that even if swine flu doesn't return soon, an H1N1 vaccination this year could provide partial protection next year, a foundation for the 2010-2011 vaccine, which is likely to include the current H1N1 vaccine.
Unless another novel flu virus hits this year the way H1N1 did last year, it's likely people will only have to get one flu vaccination next year.
You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com
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