A Roosevelt man in his 30s died from the H1N1 flu virus last weekend, the fourth death tied to the swine flu in Utah this flu season.
Jeramie Tubbs, a spokeswoman for the Tri County Health Department, didn't know if the man had any underlying medical conditions that put him at higher risk for complications.
As the number of H1N1 flu-related illnesses and deaths climb, Utah hospitals are limiting visitors in an effort to halt its spread.
Acting on a recommendation from the Utah Hospitals & Health Systems Association, University Hospital in Salt Lake City, as well as Intermountain Healthcare, IASIS Healthcare and MountainStar hospitals, have banned visitors under age 14. They have also limited other visitors to two at a time -- whether in a patient's room or accompanying a patient to an emergency room.
The limits don't apply to patients who are receiving end-of-life care. But all visitors must stay home if they are ill, including those with a fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Visitors also are asked to wash their hands frequently.
"Overall, people are taking it in stride," said Jess Gomez, a spokesman for Intermountain Healthcare. "It's an inconvenience for some, but once they better understand the reasons for the restrictions -- which is to protect their loved ones in the hospital and the people who are caring for them -- they are fine."
At Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, patients can learn whether they have H1N1 flu less than four hours after their test arrives in its central laboratory.
The lab is the only one in Utah that can provide the two-part rapid results test for potential H1N1 patients who haven't been hospitalized, Intermountain said. The two part test consists of:
A respiratory virus panel test detects a range of common respiratory viruses, including the H1N1 virus;
A confirmatory test focuses on seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1.
Both tests analyze the patient's specimen to determine the presence of viral DNA.
The tests allow faster treatment with antiviral drugs, which work best when they're given within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, said Debbie Bennion, the lab's supervisor of molecular pathology.
H1N1 flu vaccine is being distributed by Utah's 12 local health departments. Because it remains in short supply, local departments are setting limits on who qualifies for these initial doses.
Vaccine availability » Call 2-1-1 or visit www.immunize-utah.org.
Utah flu info » A map of the state's departments and their plans, www.sltrib.com/fluinfo.
