TALLAHASSEE, FL -- The Florida Department of Health wants to put the swine flu (
special report) scare into perspective. There are only two confirmed cases and eight suspected cases of swine flu in Florida so far. However, thousands of people die each year from common strains of influenza.
According to the state health department web site, Florida averaged 2,477 deaths per year from the flu and pneunomia between 2005 and 2007. Pinellas County averaged 150 deaths per year in that time period. Hillsborough County averaged 86 deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates 36,000 people die annually in the United States from the flu. A disproportionately large number of Floridians are in the group. The flu is far more dangerous for the very young and very old. Florida has more deadly cases of the flu than most states because of its elderly population.
A state health department spokesman told ABC ActionNews.com this afternoon they received more than 80 samples of possible swine flu cases in Florida. Eight to ten of them are from Tampa Bay. One, from Pinellas County tested positive. That was a person with flu like symptoms who had traveled recently to Mexico. The health department is not identifying the patient. The state has sent eight samples to the CDC for further testing.
