chicagotribune.com
Chicago swine flu death confirmed: It's the first one in Illinois
Illinois ranks 2nd only to Texas in number of confirmed and probable swine flu cases
By Carlos Sadovi
Tribune reporter
May 26, 2009
A Chicago resident became the first person in Illinois to die of swine flu, a reminder of the virus' continued circulation throughout the state even as publicity -- and fears -- about it have waned.
The Illinois Department of Public Health would only confirm that the person was from Chicago and died over the weekend. Spokeswoman Melaney Arnold declined to say what day the person died, or give the victim's age and sex, citing confidentiality and the wishes of the family.
The victim had underlying medical conditions, but Arnold said she did not know what those conditions were.
Officials have been in contact with close family members of the person who died, and the Chicago Department of Public Health will follow up, Arnold said.
The announcement marked the nation's 12th confirmed death of the virus, including a New York casualty over the weekend.
With 896 confirmed and probable cases in Illinois, the state ranks second only to Texas in swine flu infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though most local cases have been mild, the sheer number increased the likelihood of a fatality, experts said. Illinois is now the seventh state to tally a virus-related death.
"With as many cases of H1N1 influenza that have been reported in Illinois, we have been concerned that there would be fatalities," Dr. Damon Arnold, director of the state health department, said in a statement.
Although media coverage of the outbreak has ebbed, Dr. Arnold said people with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung disease and pregnancy should remain particularly cautious. He urged the public to practice common-sense measures to help prevent the flu's spread.
"We know the virus is still circulating in the state, and I would like to remind everyone, especially those with chronic medical conditions, to continue taking steps to keep from getting the flu," he said.
The flu, which has hit 46 countries, was met with hypervigilance when it surfaced last month. Educators closed nearly three dozen area schools after probable cases were reported, and youth sports events were canceled to prevent the virus from spreading.
Those precautions disappeared after officials suggested the virus didn't seem as dangerous as first feared. Officials said the Chicago death does not signal a new threat in the area or require additional steps.
Tribune reporter Stacy St. Clair contributed to this report. |
