Fourth Swine Flu Death Reported in State

[Chuck]

http://www.wtic.com/Fourth-Swine-Flu-Death-Reported-in-State/4630271

Fourth Swine Flu Death Reported in State

Connecticut has recorded its fourth death linked to swine flu. State health officials say the person, described only as an individual between 40 and 49, had other health problems that increased the patient's risk. In all. 767 confirmed cases of the H1N1 swine flu have now been reported in the state, with 28 of those people hospitalized.
The Department of Public Health says it's likely that other people have come down with the virus, but had such a mild illness that they never saw a doctor or went to the hospital.
Connecticut's three previous deaths were all in Waterbury -- a 6 year old boy, a woman older than 60, and a woman in her forties.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Fourth Swine Flu Death Reported in State

Source: http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-swine-flu-death-0619.artjun19,0,5392611.story

HARTFORD COUNTY
Fourth Connecticut Resident With Swine Flu Dies

By ARIELLE LEVIN BECKER
June 19, 2009

A Hartford County resident with swine flu has died, the fourth Connecticut death linked to the H1N1 virus.

The person was between 40 and 49 years old and had underlying medical conditions that increased the risk for serious illness from flu, the state Department of Public Health said.

The victim died at Hartford Hospital on Wednesday, but no further information was available. The health department does not release additional details on patients or victims.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends," Hartford Hospital spokeswoman Lee Monroe said in a statement. "We continue to take every safety precaution to prevent the spread of the disease to staff members or other patients."

Three other state residents with swine flu have died. All were Waterbury residents, and each had underlying medical conditions.

Most people with swine flu experience mild symptoms, state health commissioner Dr. J. Robert Galvin said, but serious illness and deaths are not unexpected. Swine flu appears to be at least as severe as seasonal flu, which each year kills about 36,000 people in the U.S.

Some people are at higher risk for complications from flu, according to state health officials. Those include children under 2 years old, adults over 65, pregnant woman and people with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease. People in those groups should call their health care provider immediately if they develop a fever with a cough, sore throat or runny nose.

Galvin urged all residents to take "simple, everyday" precautions to avoid getting or spreading swine flu: covering their coughs, washing their hands often, checking themselves for flu symptoms and staying at home and away from others if they feel sick.

In Connecticut, 767 residents have had confirmed cases of swine flu. Of them, 28 have been hospitalized, and most have recovered or been discharged. Nineteen of the people who have been hospitalized were from cities with more than 100,000 people ? Bridgeport, Hartford,New Haven, Stamford and Waterbury. Fourteen hospitalized people were from New Haven County, 10 were from Fairfield County and four were from Hartford County.