Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

[pablomorgan]

(CNN) -- Texas health officials identified the first U.S. resident who died while infected with swine flu on Tuesday, but stopped short of directly saying the virus killed her.
A worker disinfects one of the metrobuses in Mexico City on Tuesday.

The news of Judy Trunnell's death came on the same day as officials in the United States and Mexico, where the outbreak of the H1N1 virus started, were voicing hope that the worst of the new flu strain may be over.

By early Wednesday the number of confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus rose to 1,516 in 22 countries, according to the latest World Health Organization tally. The count includes 30 deaths: 29 people in Mexico and one in the United States.

The United States reported 403 cases, but Trunnell's death had not been added to the WHO or CDC count.

Trunnell, a pregnant 33-year-old teacher, had "chronic underlying health conditions" when she was admitted to a hospital in April, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. The agency did not offer more details.

The woman, who was eight months pregnant, was placed on life support. She gave birth to a healthy girl via Caesarean section and died earlier this week.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/06/swine.flu.main/

 

[viamede]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

This has not been in the media, but a 23 month old near here is fighting for his life, and a pregnant woman just south of San Antonio is fighting for her life.

This quote from Dr. Marcus L. Gitterle's contriversial email seems to fit this incident. Geography seems correct as well. Not sure if this was already picked up.

This comes from Dr. Gitterle's email from last week that was posted here in numerous threads. Like this one:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101924&highlight=gitterle

 

[pablomorgan]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

What is the source?

 

[wotan]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

Has there been any identification of underlying health conditions other than pregnancy?

 

[pablomorgan]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

I'v been searching all day for it. What ever it was it seems to be getting kept very secret upto now.

 

[pablomorgan]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

Judy Trunnel 11 months ago.

 

[viamede]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

This video news report has an interview with Dr. Joseph McCormick at the Universtity of Texas Health Sciences Centre.

http://www.valleycentral.com/news/video.aspx?id=295941

He seems to imply that the pregnancy was the underlying health condition. He also inidcates that based upon her admission of April 19th the virus has been circulating for quite some time.

 

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

I'v been searching all day for it. What ever it was it seems to be getting kept very secret upto now.

In the USA there are HIPPA laws, which protect patient privacy. Authorities/HCW cannot release details about anyone's health conditions.

.

 

[Dark Horse]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

One of the earlier Bloomberg articles, as I recall, indicated that she had gone to the doctor on April 14 for respiratory problems. Asthma perhaps?

 

[pablomorgan]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

I agree about the laws but it's strange no media have asked the family what the under lying condition was.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

I removed the high school picture. To protect privacy we publish only pictures that have been released by the family such as the one with her husband. Usually school pictures are copied out of the yearbooks without permission.

Thanks for such great work everyone!

 

[Science Teacher]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/flu-26165-county-cameron.html

Judy Dominguez Trunnell had initially tested negative for the disease when she was hospitalized two weeks ago. Dr. Brian Smith, the regional director of the Texas Department of State Health Services, said a more recent test came back positive Tuesday.

Mercedes schools Superintendent Walter Watson said one of the district's teachers died Tuesday but would not give the woman's name, citing the family's wishes. He was not aware the teacher had been infected with swine flu until late Tuesday afternoon because of the first, negative test.

 

[pablomorgan]

Swine flu victim had chronic respiratory condition

Swine flu victim had chronic respiratory condition

Associated Press - May 7, 2009 3:25 PM ET

McALLEN, Texas (AP) - Health officials say a South Texas woman who was the first American swine flu patient to die also had severe respiratory problems.

Judy Trunnell of Harlingen was a 33-year-old special education teacher in Mercedes.

Trunnell was buried today in San Benito.

She died Tuesday while in a coma, days after giving birth by Cesarean section to her second child.

Cameron County epidemiologist Leonel Lopez, in an e-mail today, said Trunnell "had both chronic and acute respiratory conditions."

Her new daughter is reportedly in good health.

The only other swine flu death in the U.S. was that of a Mexico City toddler who also had other health problems and had been visiting relatives in Brownsville. He died last week at a hospital in Houston.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=10322483

 

[pablomorgan]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

AP Medical Writer
Related Content
This undated photo provided by the Rudy Garza Funeral Home and taken by Ultrashots studio shows Judy Trunnell. Texas health officials on Tuesday May 5, 2009 announced the first death of a U.S. resident with swine flu, and said Trunnell was a 33-year-old schoolteacher who had recently given birth to a healthy baby. Health officials stopped short of saying that swine flu caused the woman's death. State health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams said the woman had "chronic underlying health conditions" but wouldn't give any more details.
AP Photo/Courtesy Garza Funeral Home, Ultrashots
This undated photo provided by the Rudy Garza Funeral Home and taken by Ultrashots studio shows Judy Trunnell. Texas health officials on Tuesday May 5, 2009 announced the first death of a U.S. resident with swine flu, and said Trunnell was a 33-year-old schoolteacher who had recently given birth to a healthy baby. Health officials stopped short of saying that swine flu caused the woman's death. State health department spokeswoman Carrie Williams said the woman had "chronic underlying health conditions" but wouldn't give any more details.

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ATLANTA -- Health officials have released details about the chronic health problems suffered by the two people who died from swine flu in the United States. The Mexican toddler who died in Texas suffered from chronic muscle weakness, a heart defect, a swallowing problem and lack of oxygen. The 33-year-old Texas woman had asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, a skin condition and was 35 weeks pregnant.

The details were included in a study done by scientists at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that was released Thursday by the New England Journal of Medicine.

The elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses are at greatest risk for severe illness from the flu.
http://www.star-telegram.com/190/story/1364308.html

 

[HenryN]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

Husband says wife had been healthy until H1N1 flu
5/19/2009 6:59 AM
By: Associated Press
<!-- //===== START BODY =====\\ -->
CORPUS CHRISTI -- The husband of the first American with H1N1 flu to die is denying media reports that she had a pre-existing medical condition.
Steven Trunnell told CNN's ?Larry King Live? Monday night that his late wife was ?a healthy pregnant woman? who had never been diagnosed with ?major medical complications of any kind.?
Judy Trunnell went into the hospital April 19 and remained until her death May 5. While in the hospital she slipped into a coma and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, delivered by Cesarean section.
A state health department spokeswoman said after her death that the South Texas schoolteacher had ?chronic underlying health conditions? but wouldn't give details. Steven Trunnell calls that ?absolutely false.?
A state health department spokesman didn't immediately return a phone call early Tuesday

http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=240955&SecID=2

 

[St Michael]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

Husband says wife had been healthy until H1N1 flu
5/19/2009 6:59 AM
By: Associated Press

CORPUS CHRISTI -- The husband of the first American with H1N1 flu to die is denying media reports that she had a pre-existing medical condition.
...
A state health department spokeswoman said after her death that the South Texas schoolteacher had ?chronic underlying health conditions? but wouldn't give details. Steven Trunnell calls that ?absolutely false.?

This does not bode well for freedom of information in any pandemic. We've moved from reporting to documented bureaucratic propaganda in the space of only a few weeks.

 

[HenryN]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

Husband says wife had been healthy until H1N1 flu
5/19/2009 6:59 AM
By: Associated Press
<!-- //===== START BODY =====\\ -->
CORPUS CHRISTI -- The husband of the first American with H1N1 flu to die is denying media reports that she had a pre-existing medical condition.
Steven Trunnell told CNN's ?Larry King Live? Monday night that his late wife was ?a healthy pregnant woman? who had never been diagnosed with ?major medical complications of any kind.?
Judy Trunnell went into the hospital April 19 and remained until her death May 5. While in the hospital she slipped into a coma and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, delivered by Cesarean section.
A state health department spokeswoman said after her death that the South Texas schoolteacher had ?chronic underlying health conditions? but wouldn't give details. Steven Trunnell calls that ?absolutely false.?
A state health department spokesman didn't immediately return a phone call early Tuesday

http://www.news8austin.com/content/headlines/?ArID=240955&SecID=2

In today's conference call, the CDC acknowledged that the underlying condition for Judy Trunnel was PREGNANCY!

 

[beudant]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

In today's conference call, the CDC acknowledged that the underlying condition for Judy Trunnel was PREGNANCY!

"chronic underlying health condition"

 

[Farmer]

Re: Texas woman suspected to have died from swine flu ID'd

In today's conference call, the CDC acknowledged that the underlying condition for Judy Trunnel was PREGNANCY!

Pregnancy continues to be listed as an underlying risk factor for severe illness. See the recent MMWR early release:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58e0518a1.htm?s_cid=rr58e0518a1_e