Santa Clara County officials declared a local state of emergency Tuesday due to the H1N1 swine flu virus.

The Board of Supervisors additionally allocated $500,000 toward flu emergency response.

Officials said there have been 155 hospitalizations and eight deaths due to the swine flu in Santa Clara County between April 3 and Sept. 15.

"The Board's declaration of emergency will enable us to put needed resources in place to respond to what is likely to be a flu season that will impact our entire community," County Executive Jeff Smith said in a prepared statement.

Officials said they have seen increased incidences of the H1N1 virus in the county in the last few weeks, as well as greater numbers of people coming to hospitals with flu-like illness, and greater absenteeism in some schools.

The county Public Health Department is preparing to distribute the H1N1 vaccine, as well as antiviral medications, to try to limit the spread of the virus, officials said.

More information on the virus and prevention is available at www.sccphd.org or www.pandemicflu.gov.

— Bay City News Service