Re: Second Illinois Death
Man state's second H1N1 flu death
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May 27, 2009
<!-- Article By Line -->STNG Wire
<!-- Article's First Paragraph --><!-- BlogBurst ContentStart -->A northwest suburban resident has died after contracting the H1N1 flu, the second Illinois resident to die from complications related to the disease, state health officials said Wednesday.
The victim had other significant medical conditions which increased their vulnerability to the H1N1 virus, according to a statement issued by State Public Health Director Dr. Damon Arnold.
The person died "within the last couple of days" from complications of the virus and other underlying health conditions, said Kelly Jakubek, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Those who were in close contact with the person have been treated. "It's not a larger risk to the public," she said.
The Cook County Department of Public Health said the person lived in northwest Cook County, but was not releasing further details.
The first Illinois resident to die was a 22-year-old Chicago man, state health officials said Tuesday. The Chicago Department of Public Health would not identify the man, but said he had been hospitalized since May 12, a day after showing symptoms. He died Sunday.
Health officials said the man had underlying medical problems, but declined to elaborate.
Illinois now has 975 confirmed cases of the virus. Of those, 430 are in Chicago and 288 are in suburban Cook County. There are 61 cases in DuPage County, 57 in Lake, 57 in Will, 30 in Kane, four in McHenry and two in Kendall.
Nationally, there are more than 7,900 confirmed cases of the virus and at least 13 people have died, though the official CDC count remains at 11 deaths and will not include the Illinois cases until it is updated next week, an IDPH spokeswoman said.
"We are saddened by the deaths but, as has been noted in Illinois and around the country, fatalities due to H1N1 continue to occur, especially when there are underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness,? Arnold said.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/...llinois-swine-flu-second-death-052709.article