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Four H1N1 Deaths in Northeastern Minnesota
Four people have died from the H1N1 virus in Northeastern Minnesota. Two of them were people with underlying health conditions in Itasca County. The other two lived in St. Louis County.
"Their bodies for whatever reason just were not able to get a handle on the viral infection," said Dr. Timothy Burke, SMDC infectious disease specialist.
One of the patients was 32-year-old Matt Walczynski, who died on November 16th. His mom, Debbie, told us he became ill ten days before. He had a high temperature throughout that weekend and was admitted to the hospital the following Tuesday. Debbie says Matt developed pneumonia and a bacterial blood infection. He was transferred to the coronary intensive care unit. But less than a week later, Debbie says Matt's heart gave out and he passed away. Dr. Burke says it's rare for someone without pre-existing medical conditions to die from H1N1.
"It's very uncommon, but it can happen," he said. "It happens in even seasonal influenza outbreaks. Unfortunately, it can still happen."
Dr. Burke says most H1N1 patients aren't hospitalized for high fevers like Matt's, but instead they're admitted because they have something called "end organ damage."
"Specifically, the lungs being so inflamed that can't carry enough oxygen to the rest of the body, or the kidneys not working properly to clear the toxins out of their body," said Dr. Burke.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the other patient from St. Louis County who died was a resident in their sixties with chronic underlying medical conditions. SMDC says the H1N1 virus may be responsible for four more deaths in the past month. But state health officials are still investigating to determine if these patients indeed died from the H1N1 virus itself...or some sort of secondary infection or illness.
Despite these recent deaths, the Department of Health says the number of H1N1 cases in the Northland appears to be declining.
Four H1N1 Deaths in Northeastern Minnesota
Four people have died from the H1N1 virus in Northeastern Minnesota. Two of them were people with underlying health conditions in Itasca County. The other two lived in St. Louis County.
"Their bodies for whatever reason just were not able to get a handle on the viral infection," said Dr. Timothy Burke, SMDC infectious disease specialist.
One of the patients was 32-year-old Matt Walczynski, who died on November 16th. His mom, Debbie, told us he became ill ten days before. He had a high temperature throughout that weekend and was admitted to the hospital the following Tuesday. Debbie says Matt developed pneumonia and a bacterial blood infection. He was transferred to the coronary intensive care unit. But less than a week later, Debbie says Matt's heart gave out and he passed away. Dr. Burke says it's rare for someone without pre-existing medical conditions to die from H1N1.
"It's very uncommon, but it can happen," he said. "It happens in even seasonal influenza outbreaks. Unfortunately, it can still happen."
Dr. Burke says most H1N1 patients aren't hospitalized for high fevers like Matt's, but instead they're admitted because they have something called "end organ damage."
"Specifically, the lungs being so inflamed that can't carry enough oxygen to the rest of the body, or the kidneys not working properly to clear the toxins out of their body," said Dr. Burke.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the other patient from St. Louis County who died was a resident in their sixties with chronic underlying medical conditions. SMDC says the H1N1 virus may be responsible for four more deaths in the past month. But state health officials are still investigating to determine if these patients indeed died from the H1N1 virus itself...or some sort of secondary infection or illness.
Despite these recent deaths, the Department of Health says the number of H1N1 cases in the Northland appears to be declining.