St. Charles man becomes Kane Co.'s 3rd H1N1 death

An unidentified St. Charles man is Kane County's third death from complications involving the H1N1 flu virus.

The Kane County Health Department reported the death Thursday. The man died Dec. 20. The delay in reporting the death stemmed from the need to verify H1N1 as the cause. The man was 65 years old and had underlying medical conditions just as the county's other two H1N1 victims did. Because of privacy concerns, the names of the deceased have not been released.

"This is another sad reminder that the flu virus is still with us," Kane County Health Department Executive Director Paul Kuehnert said in a statement. "As we have seen in the past, the flu can be especially risky for those with underlying medical conditions. With the vaccine now widely available throughout the county, we encourage all residents to be vaccinated."

The vaccine is more readily available now than just a couple months ago when county residents stood for hours outside area schools to receive the shot or nasal spray. Local pharmacies and doctors' offices now carry the vaccine for a price. The vaccine is still available through the health department for free by appointment.

All area residents, not just those in the high-risk categories, are eligible and urged to get the vaccine as the worst portion of the flu season arrives. The health department administered 18,435 doses of the vaccine as of Dec. 9. That includes more than 1,400 booster shots for children 9 and younger.

To schedule a vaccination appointment with the health department, call (630) 723-5414.