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3 more swine flu cases in Butler County

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer Updated 11:10 PM Friday, July 10, 2009

HAMILTON — Three additional Butler County residents have tested positive for swine flu, raising the number of confirmed cases in the county to seven.

The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed females ages 15, 40 and 69 have tested positive for the novel virus also known as H1N1. Their names and places of residence were not released.

The number of H1N1 cases  statewide now is 147, which including two deaths: a 46-year-old Hamilton man on June 29 became the first in Ohio to die from the illness; and 19-year-old Matthew McIntosh of Dearborn County, Ind., died of the swine flu virus July 5 at University Hospital in Cincinnati, Hamilton County Coroner Dr. O’Dell Owens  confirmed on Friday, July 10.

The Hamilton man, whose name was not released, reportedly had underlying health problems that may have contributed to his death, ODH officials said.

As of Friday, there were 37,246 confirmed cases nationwide, including 211 deaths, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

As the number of swine flu cases continues to mount, the ODH announced Friday the state will receive $9.8 million in federal funds for preparations in the event a more severe form of H1N1 flu develops in the fall.

Ohio’s share is part of a $260 million national program. The funds will aid ODH and the state’s 130 local health departments.

“The wave of flu illness we saw starting in April should be a wake-up call to all Ohioans — that preparedness is important for each individual, family and community,” said ODH Director Dr. Alvin D. Jackson.

“Government cannot do this alone. A flu pandemic affects every one of us, and every one of us should prepare,” he said.

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