H1N1 has claimed its first victim in Webster County.

The person has been identified as an adult who had risk factors that increased the chance of complications from the H1N1 virus, according to the Webster County Health Department.

The name and age of the person are not being released for privacy reasons, according to Kari Prescott, director of the Webster County Health Department.

To date, Iowa has 27 reported confirmed H1N1 deaths and more than 650 H1N1-related hospitalizations, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

While most adults and children will recover from the H1N1 virus without complications, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified certain medical conditions that may increase the risk of complications from the virus.

Among those conditions are asthma, neurological conditions, chronic lung disease, heart, blood, kidney, liver, blood and metabolic disorders.

The Iowa Department of Public Health and Webster County Public Health recommend anyone with flu-like symptoms - including fever, cough and body aches - should stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone.

With the upcoming holidays, Prescott stressed people take precautionary measures - such as frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick - to prevent spreading any illness.

In addition, people should receive the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. The Webster County Health Department will set dates and times for upcoming flu clinics after the Thanksgiving holiday.

"By doing these measures, Webster County residents can protect themselves, their families and their communities from the spread of seasonal and H1N1 influenza virus," Prescott said.

Contact Angela Burch at (515) 573-2141 or aburch@messengernews.net