Statement From New York Governor David A. Paterson on Swine Flu Death of Onondaga County Resident

June 3, 2009 -- “It is with deep sadness that we learn that New York has lost an Onondaga County resident to an illness related to the H1N1 influenza. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend my sincere condolences and prayers to his family and friends during their time of grief.

“As more cases of H1N1 are identified in New York State, unfortunately, we expect some cases to be fatal, especially for those who contract the virus and have underlying medical conditions. This is consistent with what we see during our influenza season each year. Annually, there are approximately 2,000 deaths in New York State from seasonal influenza and an estimated 36,000 deaths nationwide.

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“The New York State Department of Health (DOH) remains on heightened alert to respond to the H1N1 (swine flu) outbreak. Again, I want to emphasize that all New Yorkers should continue to adhere to the precautionary measures that we have recommended since this outbreak first began. These simple precautionary measures include:

o Washing your hands often with soap and warm water. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective.
o Avoiding people who are ill, if possible.
o Staying home from work or school if you are sick.
o Using tissue when you cough, sneeze or spit, and dispose of the tissue in a covered trash bin.
o Keeping hands away from your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
o Cleaning shared space more often such as phone receivers, keyboards, steering wheels and office equipment.
o Refraining from sharing personal items such as forks, spoons, toothbrushes and towels.”

For more information about H1N1, please visit http://www.ny.gov/h1n1/index.html

Source: New York Governor