Published: November 06, 2009 12:05 am      

9 H1N1 deaths push Ind.'s total to 19

INDIANAPOLIS — State health officials say nine Indiana residents died last week from swine flu, a surge that’s nearly doubled the state’s swine flu fatalities to 19 since June.

Health officials say hospitalization rates for influenza and pneumonia have risen 41 percent over the past three weeks as the current swine flu outbreak continues.

Even though last week was by far the deadliest week for swine flu in Indiana, health officials see some signs that the illness is easing in the state.

The state’s weekly swine flu report says emergency rooms saw a slight dip in influenza activity last week. And only nine Indiana schools reported absentee rates higher than 20 percent, while university health centers saw a decrease in swine flu cases.