http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/oregons_second_swine_flu_death.html
dates and breaking news from Portland and Oregon
Oregon's second swine flu death confirmed: a young Marion County child
by Don Colburn, The Oregonian
Tuesday June 23, 2009, 4:51 PM
Oregon health authorities have confirmed the state's second known death -- in a young Marion County child -- from the new H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu.
The child, identified only as "younger than 5 years old," died June 15, and infection with the swine flu virus was confirmed by the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory Tuesday. The child had "no known underlying medical conditions and a two-day history of fever," and was not hospitalized, officials said.
The Oregon Department of Human Services posted the information online but did not send out a formal news release. "We're in this quandary," said DHS spokesman Jim Sellers. "We have 400 deaths a year from seasonal flu in Oregon, and we don't want to alarm people."
Dr. Karen Landers, Marion County health officer, said so far the swine flu "is behaving just as we would expect a seasonal flu to behave."
Children under age 5, pregnant women and people older than 65 years old are most at risk from complications from influenza, whether the seasonal type or the newly identified H1N1 strain.
Health officials have confirmed 219 cases of swine flu in Oregon since the outbreak began. The state's first reported death from swine flu occurred June 7 in a Marion County woman who had multiple underlying health conditions and died after eight days in a hospital.
dates and breaking news from Portland and Oregon
Oregon's second swine flu death confirmed: a young Marion County child
by Don Colburn, The Oregonian
Tuesday June 23, 2009, 4:51 PM
Oregon health authorities have confirmed the state's second known death -- in a young Marion County child -- from the new H1N1 influenza virus, also known as swine flu.
The child, identified only as "younger than 5 years old," died June 15, and infection with the swine flu virus was confirmed by the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory Tuesday. The child had "no known underlying medical conditions and a two-day history of fever," and was not hospitalized, officials said.
The Oregon Department of Human Services posted the information online but did not send out a formal news release. "We're in this quandary," said DHS spokesman Jim Sellers. "We have 400 deaths a year from seasonal flu in Oregon, and we don't want to alarm people."
Dr. Karen Landers, Marion County health officer, said so far the swine flu "is behaving just as we would expect a seasonal flu to behave."
Children under age 5, pregnant women and people older than 65 years old are most at risk from complications from influenza, whether the seasonal type or the newly identified H1N1 strain.
Health officials have confirmed 219 cases of swine flu in Oregon since the outbreak began. The state's first reported death from swine flu occurred June 7 in a Marion County woman who had multiple underlying health conditions and died after eight days in a hospital.
