Hamilton County reports H1N1 death

[Ronan Kelly]

Hamilton County reports H1N1 death
Posted: Oct 30, 2009 3:36 PM EDT
Updated: Oct 30, 2009 4:07 PM EDT
The Hamilton County Health Department reported a death related to the H1N1 pandemic Friday.

Health Department officials say a person in their twenties passed away from the flu. The coroner confirmed that the person was a 22-year-old woman.

It is the eleventh death in Indiana related to the H1N1 flu.

The department stated that it is continuing to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to community providers and schools.

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[mixin]

Re: Hamilton County reports H1N1 death

A 22-year-old pregnant woman from Noblesville has died from complications related to the H1N1 flu, her grandmother said.

The Hamilton County Health Department reported Friday that a person, in his or her 20s, had died after contracting H1N1. Vivian Gregory told 6News that her granddaughter -- Amber Remmel -- was the latest Indiana victim to die after contracting the H1N1 flu, and that she was two months pregnant at the time.

Gregory said Remmel became ill Oct. 23 and went to Riverview Hospital in Noblesville on Saturday, where she was treated for an ear infection. Gregory said the woman was found dead in her home on Tuesday.

"She was healthy and strong and such a good-natured girl," Gregory said. "I blame the hospital. They should have taken care of her when she went in there on Saturday."

Remmel, who had recently been laid off, was working sporadically at Fashion Bug in Noblesville. She had been actively involved in Noblesville's Police Explorer program, which fosters leadership skills for youth.

"Remmel was a real nice young lady, always eager to learn and always eager to help out however she could," said Officer Matt Johnston, director of the group.

Remmel's death haunts family members because of how sudden and unexpected it was and because of the unborn child.

"You just think she can't be gone, but she is," Gregory said. "So you have to face it and go on."

A spokewsoman for Riverview Hospital told 6News that when Remmel came to the emergency room, she was complaining of pain in her ear. Because that isn't a common flu symptom, she wasn't tested for it.

The Indiana Department of Health reported 10 H1N1-related deaths and one death from the seasonal flu as of last Friday.

Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan also reported Friday that a middle-aged woman died in the northeastern Indiana county from the illness.

The ISDH said it won't comment on individual cases.

http://www.theindychannel.com/health/21479164/detail.html