First H1N1 death in Williamson County

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - The first Williamson County H1N1 death has been reported, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Web site.

However, the state Web site does not specify when this happened or who it is, simply that the information is for the week ending on Oct. 31. As of Oct. 31, there have been 141 deaths related to H1N1.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the H1N1 virus and season flu activity remains widespread throughout the nation - except for Hawaii, the District of Columbia and Mississippi - up until Oct. 31.

The CDC also added that visits to docotrs nationwide for influenza-like illness declined slightly from the week before Oct. 25 but are still very high.

"Flu-related hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase and are very high nation-wide compared to what is expected for this time of year," according to the CDC Web site.

When the novel H1N1 flu outbreak was first detected in mid-April 2009, CDC began working with states to collect, compile and analyze information regarding the novel H1N1 flu outbreak, including the numbers of confirmed and probable cases of disease.

From April 15 to July 24, states reported a total of 43,771 confirmed and probable cases of H1N1 infection. Of these cases reported, 5,011 people were hospitalized and 302 people died.