TALLAHASSEE, FL (AP) -- State health officials say 131 people have died from swine flu in Florida.
The Florida Department of Health spokeswoman Susan Smith released the H1N1 death toll Thursday.
Health officials are urging Floridians to seek medical help if they feel sick, to wash hands frequently, practice good hygiene and to stay home if they feel ill.
Swine flu is widespread throughout the country, and the virus is causing more illness now that it has at any time since it was first identified in April.
In people ages 5 to 64, there have been as many flu-related hospitalizations in the last six weeks as there usually are in an entire flu season, said Lyn Finelli, a CDC flu surveillance official.
Also, the number of swine flu deaths in children since the start of September roughly equals the number in the first four months of the pandemic, Finelli said.
For most people, swine flu has been a mild illness, perhaps very mild, CDC officials believe. There are cases without symptoms, "and maybe quite a few of those," said Nancy Cox, a CDC flu expert.
Millions of Americans have been infected, CDC officials estimate.
ON THE NET:
Florida Dept. of Health
Centers for Disease Control
