LITCHFIELD, MN - A 24-year-old Litchfield man was struck and killed by a train Oct. 20, according to the Meeker County Sheriff’s Department.

At 6:07 p.m., the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a train/pedestrian accident that occurred at the railroad crossing located on Meeker County State Aid Highway 1 on the west side of Litchfield. Emergency personnel responded to the location and found Keith Sully McKay, formerly of Fairmont, deceased at the scene.

From information gathered from the scene and speaking with train personal as well as, a witness who was hunting nearby, indicated that McKay was walking eastbound on the railroad tracks and was struck by a Burlington Northern/Santa Fe railroad train also traveling eastbound, according to the report.

Investigation determined the train was traveling at a speed of 44 miles per hour and sounded its whistle for a period of 47 seconds prior to the accident. A pair of headphones and a music listening device was found at the scene and may have been a factor in this accident, the report said.

Other assisting agencies were Litchfield Police Department, Litchfield Rescue, Gold Cross Ambulance, and Litchfield Fire Department.

The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office and the Meeker County Coroner’s Office are investigating the accident.

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN - Wright County received its first shipment of vaccine for the novel H1N1 influenza virus last week, according to Christine Austin-Roehler, spokesperson for Wright County Public Health.

This initial shipment of the vaccine (of the weakened live virus vaccine in the form of a nasal spray) was distributed to hospitals and clinics for health care and emergency medical workers. These workers are targeted, complying with federal and state guidance, because they are at risk of being exposed to the virus, and they could expose medically vulnerable patients to the virus if they get sick. In addition, there could be a significant impact on the health care system if they get sick and have to miss work. This strategy helps keep our health care system in good shape to care for people who become ill.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 150 million doses of vaccine will ultimately be available throughout the U.S. This means that anyone who wants the vaccine should be able to get it. Because the vaccine will be distributed to states in various quantities over the coming weeks, those at highest risk of complications from the novel H1N1 influenza will be targeted to receive the vaccine first.

High-risk individuals include:

* 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 the ages of 6 months and 24 years old.
* People 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

As shipments of vaccine are received by Public Health in the coming weeks, including the injectable form of the vaccine, it will be distributed to clinics and hospitals for patients who are at most risk of flu complications. This includes pregnant women, caregivers of infants under 6 months, children ages 6 monthS through 4 years, and children with underlying health conditions, including diabetes and asthma.

When adequate amount of vaccine are received in the county, community clinics will be offered. “It may be well into November before this will occur”, said Austin-Roehler.

“Community clinics will be scheduled at several sites around the county which will be open to school-age children and those without a clinic home to receive vaccine,” she added.

Local clinics and hospitals in the county have been seeing an increased number of patients in the last few weeks and that will probably continue. All of the schools in the Wright County area are reporting increased absences. The number of absences right now is more typical of the seasonal influenza season in February and March.

Clinics are seeing more people with influenza-like illness than usual for this time of year. It is important not to call clinics to inquire about H1N1 vaccine. At this time the vaccine is not available for the general public. Calls about vaccine tie up the phone lines making is harder for ill patients to call in. Announcements about vaccine availability and the community clinics will be made through the newspapers, KRWC 1360 am radio and on the Wright County website at www.co.wright.mn.us.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials continue to urge Minnesotans to get the seasonal flu vaccine. People should contact their health care provider or check the flu shot clinic finder at mdhflu.com to find a time and place where they can get vaccinated.

Wright County Public Health has just announced that they no longer have the seasonal flu vaccine for adults. The latest shipment of vaccine was delivered damaged and the manufacturer is not able to ship out a replacement order as no more vaccine was available. Calls to other distributers did not uncover other sources of the vaccine.

Wright County does have a small supply of seasonal flu vaccine for children who do not have health insurance to cover the cost of vaccines. Parents can call for information about this children’s flu vaccine at 763-682-7717.

To protect yourself and to help reduce the spread of influenza, MDH recommends:

* Stay home from work or school - and generally avoid going out in public - if you are sick, remain home until 24 hours after your symptoms resolve without the aid of fever-reducing medications.
* If you are an employer, encourage your employees to stay home if they are sick.
* Limit your contact with others who may be ill.
* Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze.
* Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly - with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub solution.
* Clean your hands after shaking hands or having other close contact with other people - before eating or preparing food, or touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
* Make sure to take enough fluids while you’re sick.
* If you develop possible flu symptoms and you want to consult your health care provider, call before going in for an office visit. You may not need to go in, and if you do need to be seen, a time should be set up when you will not risk exposing others to influenza in the waiting room.
* People at risk for severe flu or flu complications should contact their health care provider if they have flu symptoms or have been closely exposed to people with flu symptoms.
* Get vaccinated for both seasonal and H1N1 novel influenza as soon as vaccine becomes available for you.

For more information about influenza, please visit www.mdhflu.com. The Wright County website will post current information on H1N1 vaccine availability. Go to www.co.wright.mn.us and look for “H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Alerts.” The information will be updated weekly. A Wright County Public Health Flu Information Line is also available at with updates at 763-684-2335.