Omaha, NE - A third person has died from H1N1 in Douglas County. 58-year-old John Bernardi tested positive for H1N1 last week and had been hospitalized for six days when he died. Prior to becoming sick, he had no prior medical conditions other than high blood pressure.

Bernardi was the branch manager of the Charles Washington Library at 28th and Ames.  

"This is another very sad day for our community and this family," Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said. "Unfortunately, we know that H1N1, like the seasonal flu, can sometimes lead to serious health complications."

Library co-workers credit Bernardi for making the Washington Branch the center of the North Omaha community, organizing the annual Kwanzaa celebration, the June Family Fair. the Friday Night Youth Summer Jumpoff for teens and Thrilling Thursdays.

John is remembered as a tireless worker for literacy and the library community. He served on the board of the Literacy Center of the Midlands, was editor of the Nebraska Library Association's quarterly publication NLAQ and was on numerous committees for the statewide Nebraska Library Association.

The funeral is Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at Korisko Larkin Staskiewicz Funeral Home.  Visitation is Tuesday night beginning at 7:00.

The county's first swine flu death was in late August, the second in October.

Douglas County will open it's first public H1N1 vaccine clinic Thursday, November 4 from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m at First United Methodist Church, 70th and Cass. The vaccine will be available to persons in the high risk group, including children six months to 24-years old, caregivers of infants younger than six months, emergency and health care workers, pregnant woman and adults up to 64-years-old with chronic health conditions.