Six more H1N1 deaths, including two children, were reported in Michigan last week, flu experts said Monday.
That brings the total of deaths in Michigan to 28 since Sept. 1. Victims have ranged in age from 3 months to 72.
In their weekly flu update Monday, state health officials focused on asthma -- one of the chronic conditions that can lead to more serious cases of H1N1-- repeating the need for those with the illness to be vaccinated for this strain of the flu. Approximately 9.5% of Michigan residents have been diagnosed with asthma. That number increases in Detroit, where the latest asthma prevalence figure in 2007 was 13.7%.
There have been four H1N1 deaths of asthma suffers since April, officials said.
Those with asthma are at greater risk because they are prone to get deeper lung infections.
"Flu triggers asthma attacks," Elizabeth Wasilevich, Michigan Department of Community Health asthma epidemiologist, said of seasonal flu. "H1N1 could certainly have the same problems."
However, asthma patients should not get the mist vaccination, health officials said. Instead, they should get the flu shot. Those with other chronic conditions such as heart disease and women who are pregnant also should opt for the shot over the mist vaccine.
It is unclear how many deaths have occurred in Michigan because of seasonal flu. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not keep an individual count, said spokesman Christopher Cox. For the H1N1 outbreak, the agency is using a new surveillance system that allows it to report lab-confirmed deaths.
From Aug. 30 to Oct. 17, flu viruses and subsequent pneumonia killed about 2,800 people nationwide.
Contact PEGGY WALSH-SARNECKI: 313-222-8851 or mmwalsh@freepress.com To see more of the Detroit Free Press, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.freep.com Copyright (c) 2009, Detroit Free Press Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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