H1N1 victim's sister speaks out

[hornblower]

http://www.wxyz.com/mostpopular/story/EXCLUSIVE-H1N1-Victims-Sister-Speaks-Out/5mPGLQpVs06L5P1qc65E9w.cspx

(video at link)

WXYZ) - A relative of the first person killed by the swine flu virus in Michigan is raising questions about her death, saying the victim--her sister--may have been infected at a Detroit area hospital.

WATCH TEAM 7 COVERAGE IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ON THE RIGHT

The state health department says 53-year-old Reva Miller of Warren died of the virus Tuesday. As of the last CDC update, Michigan has a reported 287 cases of the H1N1 virus.

Across the country there have been 11,054 reported cases and 17 deaths.

[HenryN]

Re: H1N1 victim's sister speaks out

Video indicates patient was hospitalized for a week and tested negative 3X and was sent home. She then developed more symptoms, was admitted to a new hospital and tested positive after being placed on a ventilator.

[Giuseppe]

Re: H1N1 victim's sister speaks out

Video indicates patient was hospitalized for a week and tested negative 3X and was sent home. She then developed more symptoms, was admitted to a new hospital and tested positive after being placed on a ventilator.

Very sad.

I personally experienced an incident like this when a member of my family - some years ago - developed an atypical pneumonia: initially treated empirically as suffering for influenza-like illness, the 20-year old boy, subsequently developed very high fever (more than 40?C), chills, vomit and diarrhea, intense sweating; a this point, he was sent by ambulance at ER of my town hospital and after few hours discharged. His symptoms worsen during the night and then required hospitalization at infectious disease department. He recovered after three week stay. His case disconcerted me after all, because initial diagnosis by a family doctor, the first ER evaluation and his rapid physical deterioration reminded as a prompt intervention may actually save lives.

We are in an epidemic scenario now and incidents of this kind represent in fact an additional risk to people.

[Shiloh]

Re: H1N1 victim's sister speaks out

Source: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090...d-of-swine-flu

Thursday, June 4, 2009
Visitation today for Warren woman who died of swine flu
Christina Stolarz / The Detroit News

Warren -- The visitation for Reva Miller, the first Michigan fatality of the swine flu, or H1N1 virus, will be held from 2-9 p.m. today at A.H. Peter Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr in Warren.

A private burial will be held Friday, according to the funeral home.

The 53-year-old Warren woman died Monday at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital's Warren campus, said a hospital spokeswoman. Details surrounding Miller's death are protected health information.

Miller's relatives say she was on disability and went to St. John Macomb Hospital about three weeks ago with an asthma attack, according to Detroit News reporting partner WXYZ-TV (Channel 7). Miller was tested for the H1N1 virus three times during her weeklong hospital stay; all tests came back negative. Hours after she was discharged, she went to Henry Ford Macomb Hospital and was tested for the virus. It came back positive.

"I'm not in the position to discuss the case, but we're looking into it," said Brian Taylor, spokesman for St. John Health System. "That's where it stands right now."

In Michigan, there are 298 confirmed cases of the swine flu, including 20 in Macomb, 15 in Livingston, 68 in Oakland and 15 in Wayne counties, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health.

Nationally, there have been 18 deaths from the H1N1 virus: four each in Arizona and New York; three each in Illinois and Texas; and one each in Michigan, Missouri, Utah and Washington. There are 11,054 confirmed cases in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.