SEATTLE: Swine flu contributes to death

The Seattle-King County Health Department reports a girl died Saturday of complications of swine flu and her underlying health conditions.

It was the second swine flu death in the county and the seventh since the spring in Washington.

The state Health Department reports 113 people in Washington have been hospitalized with swine flu, as of Friday.

ATLANTA: U.S. swine flu deaths surpass 1,000

Federal health officials say swine flu is more widespread now than it has ever been.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is as much illness now as the winter peak of regular flu seasons. CDC officials said Friday that swine flu has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths so far.

Public demand for the new swine flu vaccine has caused long lines and frustration in several parts of the country. But worries about flu have prompted record interest in seasonal flu vaccine as well. About 60 million people have been vaccinated already – an unprecedented number for October. Most seasonal flu shots usually aren’t given until later in the fall.

Swine flu played role in death of Aberdeen boy, 12

MONTESANO The Grays Harbor County health officer, Dr. John Bausher, says the death of an Aberdeen 12-year-old is the first in the county linked to swine flu.

Conner Woodruff died Nov. 6, and Bausher said Monday the death of the Robert Gray Elementary student was caused by a rare complication in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed.

The Washington Health Department reports there have been at least 38 deaths in the state since April of all types of flu seasonal and swine flu.

Western Washington doctor treated 22 children before falling ill with suspected case of swine flu

People suspected of having swine flu in Washington state include a pediatrician who treated 22 patients before falling ill. Several schools in Federal Way, Seattle and Everett announced closures of up to a week because of students linked to suspected cases of swine flu. • STATEWIDE: Schools that will be closed • LOCAL: Pierce County prepares, waits • MITIGATION: Closing schools may not stop flu transmission • NATIONAL: Biden tells family to stay off planes, subways • WORLDWIDE: Death toll hits 168 in Mexico • WORLDWIDE: U.S. sends anti-viral drugs to fight flu in Mexico

Get your flu shots, health care workers

Health care providers are urging their patients to get flu shots this fall – against the regular seasonal flu and the new swine flu virus.

Uh . . . physicians, heal thyself.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, fewer than half of health care workers got a flu shot last year. That might fly during a normal flu season, but the 2009-2010 season is shaping up to be anything but normal.