Wash. State Man Becomes Third U.S. H1N1 Death
Costa Rica's Health Ministry Reports First Death From Swine Flu
May 9, 2009 11:59 pm US/Eastern

Tokyo (CBS) - Washington state health officials say a man in his 30s is the first person in the state - and the third in the U.S. - to die from what appears to be complications of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

The state Department of Health says in a news release that, like the first two U.S. H1N1 victims, the Snohomish County man had underlying heart conditions and also viral pneumonia at the time of his death May 6, but that he also had swine flu and it is considered a factor in the death.

"This death is tragic. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this man's passing," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "It's a sobering reminder that influenza is serious, and can be fatal."

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US, Costa Rica swine flu deaths reported
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SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state man with underlying heart conditions became the third person infected with swine flu to die in the U.S., health officials said Saturday, while Costa Rica reported the first swine flu death outside North America.

Japanese authorities, meanwhile, scrambled to limit contact with their country's first cases, and Australia and Norway joined the list of nations with confirmed cases of swine flu.

A Snohomish County man in his 30s died on Thursday from what appeared to be complications from swine flu, the state Department of Health said in a statement. The man had underlying heart conditions and viral pneumonia at the time of his death, but swine flu was considered a factor in his death, the statement said.

The man, who was not identified, reportedly began showing symptoms on April 30.

His death and the death of a 53-year-old man in Costa Rica on Saturday brings the global death toll to 53, including 48 in Mexico, three in the United States and one in Canada.

Press Release on highly infectious Swine Influenza Virus in Mexico and other Countries
source: Republic of Botswana (9/5/09)
prgovbw.blogspot.com...

C14) 27/4/09: PRESS RELEASE ON HIGHLY INFECTIOUS SWINE INFLUENZA VIRUS IN MEXICO AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

As of April 24, 2009 WHO reported a flu like illness in Mexico which was responsible for more than 882 cases and 62 deaths due to pneumonia, following the surveillance that started on the 18th March, 2009. The virus responsible for this infection was confirmed to be Swine Influenza type A/H1N1. This death toll rose to 103 by the 27th of April, 2009. So far beside Mexico, USA, Canada, New Zealand, Israel, France, Spain are also affected by the virus.

This virus is contagious and spreads from infected pigs to humans and from human to human through respiratory droplets.
It may also be spread when a person touch respiratory droplets on another person or on an object and then touches their own mouth, eye or nose, before washing their hands.

CDC: H1N1 flu now in 45 states
8:18 p.m. EDT May 10, 2009
marketwatch

BOSTON (MarketWatch) -- The Centers for Disease Control said Saturday that there are now about 3,000 suspected and confirmed cases of the H1N1 flu virus in the U.S., spread across 45 states and the District of Columbia. Of those cases, 1,639 have had their diagnoses confirmed by a special laboratory test, and 104 have required hospitalization. Most of the patients who have required hospitalization also suffered from other complicating medical conditions. To date, there have been only two deaths, both in Texas. The CDC said they remain wary of the virus because it is a new viral strain and appears to be as easily transmittable as the seasonal flu. Health officials have said they are concerned the H1N1 virus might mutate into a far more dangerous illness in the coming months.