Guam confirms second H1N1 death

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=93432&cat=1

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Guam confirms second H1N1 death

The Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services confirmed yesterday another H1N1-related death on the island-the second thus far.

In a statement issued just before 5pm yesterday, Public Health director J. Peter Roberto said his department received confirmation late Wednesday afternoon of an H1N1-related death.

"During the course of regular surveillance activities, DPHSS sent 13 specimens to an off-island lab for confirmatory testing. Of the 13 samples, six returned positive for H1N1, which included one positive case belonging to a patient who has since passed away.

:The deceased was between the ages of 5 and 24 years old and had severe preexisting health conditions. The department is in the process of contacting the next of kin before releasing any further details. Pending this notification I am asking for the public's patience and understanding at this time. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased individual," Roberto said.

Guam?s first case of swine flu related death was announced at a news conference in Mangilao on July 20 this year. (PR)

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Guam confirms second H1N1 death

Source: http://www.guampdn.com/article/2009...lic-Health-reports-island-s-2nd-H1N1-fatality

Swine flu death confirmed: Public Health reports island's 2nd H1N1 fatality

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno ? Pacific Daily News ? September 10, 2009


Guam's death toll related to the H1N1 flu pandemic has increased to two.

The Department of Public Health and Social Services announced in an e-mailed press release just before 5 p.m. yesterday that another Guam fatality related to the H1N1 flu virus was confirmed.

The department's press release was issued almost 24 hours after it received the test results from an off-island lab, confirming the death was related to H1N1, or swine flu.

"Guam's Department of Public Health and Social Services received confirmation late (Tuesday) afternoon of an H1N1-related death," according to the department's press release.

The reason Public Health didn't immediately notify the public as soon as the confirmation was received is that the deceased's next of kin hasn't been notified, said MaryLou Loualhati, the department's spokeswoman. She said she couldn't say whether the person who died lived in Guam or was a visitor.

The department released an age range that puts the deceased anywhere between kindergarten age and the mid-20s. No gender was available. "The deceased was between the ages of 5 and 24 years old and had severe pre-existing health conditions," the department's news release stated. Public Health didn't state what the victim's health complications were.

"The department is in the process of contacting the next of kin before releasing any further details. Pending this notification, I am asking for the public's patience and understanding at this time. We offer our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased individual," J. Peter Roberto, director of Public Health, was quoted as saying in the press release.

13 specimens

The death was confirmed out of 13 specimens sent for H1N1 testing. Of the 13 samples, six tested positive for H1N1, which included one positive case belonging to a patient who died after the specimens were collected, according to the department.

The department didn't have answers to questions that could help raise awareness about whether island residents have been in contact with the person who died.

The department, through its spokeswoman, didn't release information to the public on certain information, including:

# Whether the person died in Guam, or lived here but had been under medical care off island when he or she died; or

# Whether the person had been hospitalized in Guam.

Loualhati said Public Health is stepping up efforts to raise public awareness about H1N1 prevention. Authorities at the A.B. Won Pat International Airport Guam also are on the lookout to spot flu-like symptoms, Loualhati said.

Public Health announced in July what it called Guam's first H1N1 death, a woman who had health complications. The woman's husband questioned the announcement, saying he didn't believe his wife died of swine flu.

 

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Re: Guam confirms second H1N1 death

Source: http://www.guampdn.com/article/2009...ath+is+girl++13++who+was+hospitalized+on+Guam


BREAKING NEWS - Second H1N1 death is girl, 13, who was hospitalized on Guam

Pacific Daily News ? September 10, 2009

The Guam Memorial Hospital ensured that all proper precautions were taken to protect GMH staff and patients from catching the H1N1 flu virus when a patient with underlying health problems was under the hospital's care last month, GMH spokesman Connor Murphy said.

Guam's second H1N1 fatality died on Aug. 29 at GMH.

The patient came into GMH's emergency room on Aug. 20 and was transferred to the hospital's pediatric ICU, Murphy said.

During the nine days the patient was at the pediatric ICU, she was placed in isolation.
Another, well-placed source, who is a medical practictioner, confirmed before GMH's information that the girl, 13, recently moved to Guam from Saipan.

The public health department has been vague about the H1N1 fatality, saying it had not notified the deceased's next of kin.

Public health only stated on Wednesday the deceased was between 5 and 24 years old. Public health had received confirmation that the death was related to H1N1 as early as Tuesday.