Santa Clara County Declares State of Emergency for H1N1-Swine Flu

SANTA CLARA COUNTY (BCN) -- Santa Clara County officials are declaring a local state of  emergency due to the H1N1 swine flu virus.

The Board of Supervisors additionally allocated $500,000 toward  flu emergency response.

Officials said there have been 155 hospitalizations and eight  deaths due to the swine flu in Santa Clara County between April 3 and Sept.  15.

"The Board's declaration of emergency will enable us to put needed  resources in place to respond to what is likely to be a flu season that will  impact our entire community," County Executive Jeff Smith said in a prepared  statement.

Officials said they have seen increased incidences of the H1N1  virus in the county in the last few weeks, as well as greater numbers of  people coming to hospitals with flu-like illness, and greater absenteeism in  some schools.

The county Public Health Department is preparing to distribute the  H1N1 vaccine, as well as antiviral medications, to try to limit the spread of  the virus, officials said.


- Via KRON