A middle-aged man who had "pre-existing health conditions" is the first person in Orange County to die of Swine Flu, or the H1N1 virus, officials said Monday.
"Our hearts and sympathies go out to this man?s family," County Health Officer Dr. Eric Handler said. ?His death is a sad reminder of the serious threat posed by H1N1 influenza and other influenza viruses. It is important for everyone to continue practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene to limit the transmission of influenza germs from person to person."
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The man, whose name was not released, is the fourth Californian to die of swine flu, and statewide there have been more than 1,000 confirmed and probable cases of H1N1influenza virus. As of June 8, Orange County reported 86 confirmed and probable cases. While most cases of novel H1N1 flu have been relatively mild, at least 62 infected people in the state have been hospitalized. Most of those hospitalized had underlying medical conditions.
The symptoms of novel H1N1 influenza are similar to the symptoms of seasonal influenza and include fever, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with the virus. If you are sick or think you may have H1N1 influenza consult your healthcare provider.
