Six adults already suffering from medical conditions died from the swine flu in a nine-day period, Deputy Health and Senior Services Commissioner Susan Walsh said today.
The swine flu has killed 28 New Jerseyans since April.
Swine flu and New Jersey
The recent string of deaths does not mean the H1N1 flu, as it is also known, has turned into a more deadly virus since the first outbreak in the spring, Walsh said. Most people who contract the illness miss some school or work but recover quickly without a hospital stay. Between April and August, 18 people in New Jersey died; 10 have died since the fall began, according to the state's announcement.
All four women and two men who died had lived with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and obesity, Walsh said.
They are:
• 24-year-old Passaic County man who died Nov. 2
• 30-year-old Passaic County man who died Nov.5
• 36-year-old Burlington County woman who died Nov. 6
• 42-year-old Somerset County woman who died Nov. 7
• 42-year-old Burlington County woman who died Nov. 8
• 33-year-old Ocean County woman who died Nov. 11.
"It is important that everyone remember the public health measures that can reduce the chances of contracting the disease -- get vaccinated against H1N1, wash your hands frequently, cover your cough and stay home when you're sick," Walsh said.
Walsh also used the announcement to publicize telephone and online resources available to help people locate the vaccine, which is in short supply.
Google Inc. has launched a flu shot finder to provide individuals with the locations of clinics that offer seasonal and H1N1 vaccines, Walsh said. The link is available from the department's website at http://nj.gov/health/flu/h1n1.shtml.
It allows the public to search by town, county and zip code to find flu shots at locations such as major retail pharmacies and supermarkets. The site also includes the public health clinics that have been listed on the Department of Health and Senior Services' "Find a Flu Shot" button. The website also can be accessed at www.google.com/flushot.
State residents may call New Jersey's H1N1 Information Hotline, (866) 321-9571, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week
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