More died from flu over weekend, Lucas County health department officials say

1/13/2014

Officials at the Toledo Lucas County Health Department said today there were likely more deaths from the flu virus over the weekend.

Larry Vasko, health department deputy commissioner, said he is waiting on official confirmation from the hospitals on the number of deaths.

The Toledo area remains on high alert as the flu season has taken a dramatic turn in the last week.

Health department officials announced Friday that two people have already died from the H1N1 strain of the virus in Lucas County during the last two weeks.

Toledo resident Connie Bucklew, 62, died Tuesday and a 50-year-old Temperance man died Dec. 28. Both were in Toledo Hospital. Ms. Bucklew was semiretired after working more than 30 years in the insurance industry.

The man who died was not identified by health officials.

These are the first deaths from flu-related illness in the area in at least two years, said Dr. David Grossman, health commissioner for the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.

The flu is an illness that comes on abruptly with fever and chills, muscle aches, and a severe cough and shortness of breath, but there are simple things that people can do, such as washing hands and covering the mouth when coughing that will probably reduce the spread of the disease, said Dr. Grossman.

The Lucas County Health Department, 635 N. Erie St., will hold two walk-in flu clinics this week: Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m., and Jan. 18, from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. The cost of the adult flu vaccine is $30.