The region's first confirmed death from swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, occurred in Twin Falls this week - claiming a teenager with underlying health conditions, according to the South Central Public Health District.

"The death of a resident of our community saddens us deeply, and our sympathies go out to his family and other loved ones," said Rene LeBlanc, health district director, in a press release. "Although most cases of H1N1 recover without medical attention, this is an unfortunate reminder that all flu viruses can be deadly. We must continue to be vigilant in preventing the spread of the H1N1 influenza and seasonal influenza."

South-central Idaho has seen an increase in flu-like illness during the past month, resulting in school district closures in Oakley, Shoshone and Murtaugh.

The Twin Falls teen is the eighth person in the state who has succumbed to the illness since Sept. 1 and the first H1N1-related death in southern Idaho, according to the health district.

Both swine flu and seasonal flu spread through the air, usually by infected people coughing or sneezing.

The health district will hold a closed swine flu vaccination clinic today at West Minico Middle School in Paul for about 1,550 students who preregistered through the school district.

Minidoka County School District Superintendent Scott Rogers said the clinic will be closed to the public. Individuals not registered will be turned away because of national vaccine shortages announced earlier this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Rogers said the health district will administer the vaccine to Minidoka County school children whose parents registered them after receiving letters from the school.

Registered students whose last names begin with the letters "A" through "M" will receive the vaccine from

10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and those with last names beginning with the letters "N" through "Z" are scheduled from 1 to

4 p.m.

However, LeBlanc said, parents of district students can show up at West Minico at 4 p.m. and be placed on a "stand-by list."

"If it's a couple with no kids or medical conditions, they'll be asked to wait until December," LeBlanc said, adding that the emphasis will be placed on pregnant women, children and people who care for infants under 6 months old.

"I'm trying not to show favorites as I go around the eight counties we serve," LeBlanc said. "We're doing the best we can with what we have available."

Preregistered families have already been notified for the Minidoka County clinic, Rogers said. Parents must accompany their children and sign consent forms.

Last week, the Murtaugh school district received the vaccine in a clinic open to the public. The reason Minidoka was selected next, LeBlanc said, is because the health district needed to shift its focus to a midsized school district.

"We don't have enough for Twin Falls right now, but we have two small schools scheduled for next week," he said. "Depending on how much we expend (today), we'll start coordinating heavily with those districts."

The next shipment is scheduled to arrive this Friday, but LeBlanc said he doesn't know how many doses it will include, because circumstances have changed in the past month.

"Nobody was interested and now they're all interested. Demand is outweighing supply greatly," he said. "This is like a box of Cracker Jacks. There's a prize inside but we don't know what that prize is until we open the box. For us, it may be an e-mail from Health and Welfare telling us we're getting a large shipment."

Laurie Welch contributed to this report.

Damon Hunzeker may be reached at dhunzeker@magicvalley.com or 208-735-3204.