This is the latest swine flu update from the  Florida Department of Health as of July 30, 2009

Eight new laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths  have been verified in that of  the following:   a 90-year-old male in Palm Beach County, a 57-year-old male in Dade County, a 47-year-old male in Dade County,  a 3-year-old female in Dade,  a 59-year-old in Broward County, a 49-year-old male in Broward, a 44-year-old male in Hillsborough County, and a 49-year-old male in Hillsborough County.  While most cases of H1N1 Swine Flu are mild, there are exceptions. Pre-existing health condition often play a role in how individuals react to the flu. To-date, there have been 31  laboratory confirmed H1N1 Swine Flu deaths in Florida.    

             "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these individuals, " said Surgeon General Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros.  " H1N1 Swine Flu, like seasonal flu, can in some circumstances be very serious, therefore, all of us should continue to adhere to good health practices including, stay home if sick, cover cough and sneeze, and wash hands frequently."  

              All four Department of Health laboratories have received testing supplies from the Center for Diseases Control and can test samples to confirm H1N1 Swine Flu.  This testing capability allows the Department to expedite results as we no longer need to send probable cases to CDC laboratories.

           The Department of Health continues enhanced surveillance and outreach to physicians, hospitals and other health care  professionals.  The surveillance system, consisting of sentinel physicians, reporting influenza activity, DOH laboratories

             receiving specimens from physicians and hospitals and our ability to monitor emergency room cases and over-the-counter  drug sales is fully operational.  We have activated our response plan and are ready to respond if needed.

              Department of Health continues its enhanced surveillance with a network of sentinel physician providers. These providers  send selected samples of laboratory specimens to state laboratories for testing if they have patients with influenza like  illness (ILI). These physicians also continue to report weekly ILI cases to the Department of Health. 

Florida currently has listed 3321 confirmed cases of H1N1 Swine Flu.    

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