The first H1N1 death has been reported in Hardin County, Kentucky.  The victim was a man in his thirties, and the Kentucky Department of Health along with the Lincoln Trail District Health Department says the victim had no apparent underlying medical conditions. 

He was first taken to Hardin Memorial where officials say his illness progressed, and he was then taken to a hospital in Louisville where he died last week.

This is Kentucky's 11th confirmed H1N1 death.

Starting Wednesday, Hardin Memorial Hospital will begin restricting visitors to prevent the spread of the flu.

"We are truly saddened about the death of this young man and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family," stated Linda Sims, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Director in a press release.  "It is a tragedy to lose anyone to illness."

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department says it is still trying to obtain the H1N1 vaccine.  And it reminds everyone of the target groups recommended to receive the vaccine first:

- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months old
- Health care and emergency medical services workers
- Children and young adults 6 months to 24 years old, especially those with chronic health problems
- People 25 to 64 years old with chronic health problems

People over the age of 65 appear to be at lower risk of catching the swine flu, and are encouraged to wait to receive the vaccine until after those in the target groups have received it.

So far, Hardin County has received over 2700 doses of the H1N1 vaccine.  About half of this vaccine has been in the form of the nasal spray vaccine, which can only be taken by healthy individuals ages 2-49, with the rest in the form of the H1N1 flu shot.

For more information on the H1N1 flu, visit http://healthalerts.ky.gov or follow KYHealthAlerts on Twitter. Kentucky's toll-free influenza hotline number is 1(877)843-7727, and operates from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.