H1N1 Flu Fatal for Dispatcher

Lee County (Fla.) health officials have confirmed that a woman who died from the H1N1 flu on Wednesday was a dispatcher for the Cape Coral Police Department. Michelle Olson, 30, was a mother of three and worked at the police department for two years. Police chief Rob Petrovich said Olson’s fellow dispatchers are in shock and saddened by her death. County health officials said Olson had no pre-existing medical conditions. The was the fourth person in the county to die from the new strain of flu, and the first in Cape Coral. She was also the youngest person in the county to die from H1N1. About 10 of the city’s 1,500 employees have reported sick with flu-like symptoms over the past several months, city officials said, including the city’s fire chief. County health officials are urging employees who feel ill to stay home, and are urging hand washing and use of disinfectant wipes for work surfaces. Vaccinations won’t be available until later this month for city-county employees. Get the address of the comm center for donations after the break.

You can send condolence cards to the Cape Coral Communications center at:

Cape Coral PD

815 Nicholas Parkway E.

Cape Coral, FL 33990

The police department has also set up an assistance fund for Ms. Olson’s three children at:

Florida Gulf Bank

812 Del Brado Blvd S.

Cape Coral, FL 33990