Bisbee, AZ (November 25, 2009) — The Cochise County Health Department and the Arizona Department of Health Services confirm that a woman in her 50's from the Sierra Vista area with underlying medical conditions died from complications of 2009 H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu) in late October. This is the second death in Cochise County associated with the new flu strain.  Through November 14, 2009 there have been 103 deaths in Arizona associated with 2009 H1N1 since the outbreak began last April.

"Influenza is serious, especially for those with underlying health conditions," said Vaira Harik, Director of the Cochise County Health Department.  "As Cochise County has approximately 2 percent of the state's population, our mortality rate from H1N1 complications among county residents is in line with what would be expected.  This death does not change our course of action here in Cochise County."  Health Department disease surveillance staff work closely with hospitals in Cochise and Pima counties to track and monitor Cochise county residents that are hospitalized with complications from H1N1.

The Health Department will be expanding access to H1N1 vaccine to more groups in December.  

Detailed information will be available at www.cochise.az.gov/h1n1 and by calling Cochise County's H1N1 Hotline at 520-432-9410 for recorded information.