The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported on Thursday two deaths in northeast Kansas of people infected with the H1N1 influenza virus.

The deaths occurred in a 16-year-old and a 30-year-old. Both were hospitalized and had underlying health conditions.

The teenager’s death was reported to KDHE on Sept. 22, and the adult’s death was reported Wednesday. Laboratory testing confirmed they had H1N1.

Maggie Thompson, KDHE spokeswoman, said she couldn’t provide more details about where the individuals resided. But, she said, the northeast area includes 21 counties, including Douglas and its surrounding counties.

Health department spokeswomen in Douglas, Johnson and Leavenworth counties said they had not been contacted by KDHE regarding the deaths; therefore, the deaths most likely didn’t occur in their counties.

“We know that the disease is everywhere in the state, and so specific geography isn’t as critical as knowing the age of the people and their underlying health conditions because those are two critical factors,” Thompson said.

“That’s why it is so important that we work on preventing the spread, and once the vaccine is available next month, people need to get vaccinated. These two individuals would have fallen into the priority groups for vaccination, so it’s really important that people do get vaccinated when it’s available,” she said.

These were the state’s third and fourth deaths linked to the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu.

The first death was reported by KDHE on Aug. 6 and was a middle-aged Sedgwick County resident who already suffered from a chronic medical condition.

The second death occurred in a 6-year-old from southeast Kansas. The illness was confirmed as H1N1 flu on Aug. 25, and the child’s death was reported to KDHE on Sept. 3.

The H1N1 virus has been confirmed in 55 of the state’s 105 counties since the first cases were reported in late April.

The symptoms of infection with the H1N1 virus are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include a fever greater than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, sore throat, respiratory congestion, and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting.

KDHE recommends that individuals who experience severe illness or who are at high risk of complications from H1N1 influenza infection, including children under 5, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions, should contact their health care provider.

“While the majority of people experience mild illness, these deaths illustrate the risk that those with underlying health conditions have when infected with the H1N1 virus,” Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips said. “It is so critical that people take seriously the potential dangers of this disease and recognize the importance of working towards preventing further spread and receiving the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it becomes available.”

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department expects to receive its first shipment during the first full week in October.

The department has scheduled four community clinics in October at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. The clinics will be from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 28, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 29-30, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 31.

The department will provide the vaccine for no cost and will give the vaccines to those who are most at risk of getting the H1N1 virus.

That high-risk group includes pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, people between 6 months and 24 years old, and people between 25 and 64 who have chronic health conditions.