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Indiana/Ohio: Two Siblings Die of Swine Flu, ages 19 & 26

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  • Indiana/Ohio: Two Siblings Die of Swine Flu, ages 19 & 26



    A family from Dearborn County is asking for your prayers as their daughter clings to life in intensive care at University Hospital. An illness, which appeared to come on suddenly, has already taken the life of their son, who's just 19 years old.

    Matt and Mindy Mcintosh are well known around their community of Moores Hill. Matt played in a rock band called "Strange on Display."

    As Local 12's Liz Bonis tells us, the disturbing part is there is still no confirmation on what made these two young people so sick.

    Experts at University hospital say the cause of this first death is still unknown, and Mindy, his sister, is still in critical condition.
    They said they are waiting for tests to find out more. They do feel right now there is no danger due to illness to others in the hospital, but they are taking universal precautions. They also feel there's no danger to the community.

    Matt Mcintosh was airlifted to University Hospital from Dearborn County early last week, according to spokesperson Don Crouse.

    Don Crouse, University Hospital Spokesperson: "Basically, he came in with double pneumonia, and renal failure, several days before he had been relatively healthy, performed with a local rock band and had played the Saturday before, so this illness was what appeared to be a fairly quick onset."

    Matt died Sunday and medical experts are now looking at autopsy results to see if anything they learn could help save his sister Mindy's life. Lab testing is on-going for viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, but Crouse says they've all but ruled out the H1N1 Virus or Swine Flu.

    "We can say with 95 percent certainty that it's not swine flu, tests have been performed on those and so far they have come back negative."


    Now, as you might imagine these test take awhile, we expect to hear more in the next 24 hours. Until then, the family continues to ask for our prayers.

    Local 12's Joe Webb also spent the day in Dearborn County and spoke to the band's lead singer who says she is also at University Hospital. She is expected to go home tomorrow.

    Matt is the drummer in the local band "Strange on Display." A neighbor says he became very sick during a performance more than a week ago and called his mother.

    Pay Cummins, Neighbor: "She came and got him and when he got home he was coughing, but he was coughing up blood."

    Matt Mcintosh is now dead. His sister is in a critical care unit, and another band member, Kristine Spielmann is also at University Hospital. She has been in isolation and under observation since Sunday with flu-like symptoms.

    Don Crouse says it doesn't appear Spielmann has the same ailment, but is being checked out because of contact with Mcintoshes.

    The Mcintoshes live in rural Dearborn County, near Moores Hill. Initial calls to Local 12 claimed they got sick after cleaning an outbuilding, a shed or barn and getting into some mold or dust. The hospital is taken a broad treatment approach.

    "It's being treated as either viral, bacterial or fungal. We don't really have any clue as to what we're dealing with, yet."

    The hospital has sent cultures for tests. A lot of people are anxious for answers.

    "It's puzzling. And it's scary because we live so close."

    The Mcintosh family did not want to comment on camera today. Through the hospital, the Mcintoshes thanked friends for their prayers and support. They also thanked the hospital for taking heroic efforts to save Matt. They also asked for continued prayers for Mindy Mcintosh.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------



    A medical investigation is underway after a Dearborn County man died of complications from an unknown ailment.

    University Hospital reports that 19-year-old Matthew ?Skinny? McIntosh, of Moores Hill, Ind., died July 5.

    The hospital reports that his sister, Melinda McIntosh, 26, remains in critical condition.

    In a statement released by the hospital from the McIntosh family, it says:

    ?The outpouring of support and attention our son has generated over the past few days is truly overwhelming, and we thank everyone who has kept Matt and those involved in his care in their thoughts and prayers.
    ?No one feels the loss more deeply than we do, however, we request that people refrain from participating in conjecture and rumor. We don?t yet know the causes of this terrible tragedy. We?re confident the doctors here will have those answers for us soon as they possibly can.?

    A visitation and funeral for Matthew McIntosh are planned for later this week.

  • #2
    Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

    Originally posted by thebes View Post
    http://www.local12.com/mostpopular/s...8f_8KYuUA.cspx


    Pay Cummins, Neighbor: "She came and got him and when he got home he was coughing, but he was coughing up blood."

    The Mcintoshes live in rural Dearborn County, near Moores Hill. Initial calls to Local 12 claimed they got sick after cleaning an outbuilding, a shed or barn and getting into some mold or dust. The hospital is taken a broad treatment approach.
    Those symptoms and that exposure history suggest a possible hantavirus infection. Hopefully, the CDC will get involved and we will know more within a day or so.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

      This story has been updated and now contains these lines. If all three of them cleaned out the shed together, that is likely the exposure. I wonder why the third person didn't get as sick as the other two. I also wonder who else helped them clean out the shed.



      Kristine Spielmann, a friend who also became sick, was released from University Hospital on Tuesday.

      Friends say all three may have possibly gotten sick after cleaning out a shed.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

        Local 12 WKRC-TV is the local station for breaking news, weather forecasts, traffic alerts, community news, Cincinnati Bengals, Reds and FC Cincinnati sports updates, and CBS programming for the Cincinnati , Ohio area, including Avondale, Blue Ash, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Cheviot, Cleves, Colerain Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Corryville, Norwood, Delhi, East Price Hill, Golf Manor, Hyde Park, Lebanon, Loveland, Lower Price Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Mount Adams, Mount Airy, Mount Healthy, Mount Lookout, Mount Washington, Oakley, Over-The-Rhine, Reading, Sedamsville, Sharonville, Springdale, St. Bernard, South Cumminsville, Symmes Township, Mason, Hamilton, Union Township, Walnut Hills, West Chester, Wyoming, West Price Hill, Westwood, Winton Hills, Alexandria, Bellevue, Covington, Crescent Springs, Erlanger, Fort Mitchell, Fort Thomas, Fort Wright, Florence, Hebron, Highland Heights, Newport, Southgate, Villa Hills, Walton, Aurora, Greendale, and Lawrenceburg.


        This link contains a video. At the end of the video, the reporter reports two interesting points:

        1. That Mindy's lungs appear to be clearing.
        2. That Kristine's symptoms seem to be similar to that of Matt and Mindy's. If all three cleaned out the shed, that is not surprising. If Krisitine's only exposure is to an ill Matt or Mindy, we have a MAJOR problem.

        Also, they mention that Matt was treated at Dearborn Hospital before being airlifted to University Hospital. If he was contagious, he might have exposed a lot of people.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

          Local 12 WKRC-TV is the local station for breaking news, weather forecasts, traffic alerts, community news, Cincinnati Bengals, Reds and FC Cincinnati sports updates, and CBS programming for the Cincinnati , Ohio area, including Avondale, Blue Ash, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Cheviot, Cleves, Colerain Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Corryville, Norwood, Delhi, East Price Hill, Golf Manor, Hyde Park, Lebanon, Loveland, Lower Price Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Mount Adams, Mount Airy, Mount Healthy, Mount Lookout, Mount Washington, Oakley, Over-The-Rhine, Reading, Sedamsville, Sharonville, Springdale, St. Bernard, South Cumminsville, Symmes Township, Mason, Hamilton, Union Township, Walnut Hills, West Chester, Wyoming, West Price Hill, Westwood, Winton Hills, Alexandria, Bellevue, Covington, Crescent Springs, Erlanger, Fort Mitchell, Fort Thomas, Fort Wright, Florence, Hebron, Highland Heights, Newport, Southgate, Villa Hills, Walton, Aurora, Greendale, and Lawrenceburg.


          This is the comments on the above article. Note that the commenter named "ahartman", who identifies himself as a cousin of Matt and Mindy, claims that hantavirus has been tested for and ruled out. This remains a mystery.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

            RED ALERT!!!! Note the red text. This is highly infectious, as we have now had four cases, inlcuding Matt's father. This must be contagious, as not all four people could have cleaned out a barn together. I don't think the barn has anything to do with this. I also don't think Kristine has been discharged - she appears to have the same severe illness. I hope the CDC is paying close attention.

            I think we need to change the title of the thread to reflect the fact that there are now four cases.

            A lot of people could have been exposed to this, considering Matt took ill at a performance of his band, then was treated in two different hospitals. And that doesn't mention any contacts of the other three cases. I think we're going to have an "Undiagnosed Fatal Illness" ProMed post in the USA. I never thought I'd see that.

            Local 12 WKRC-TV is the local station for breaking news, weather forecasts, traffic alerts, community news, Cincinnati Bengals, Reds and FC Cincinnati sports updates, and CBS programming for the Cincinnati , Ohio area, including Avondale, Blue Ash, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Cheviot, Cleves, Colerain Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Corryville, Norwood, Delhi, East Price Hill, Golf Manor, Hyde Park, Lebanon, Loveland, Lower Price Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Mount Adams, Mount Airy, Mount Healthy, Mount Lookout, Mount Washington, Oakley, Over-The-Rhine, Reading, Sedamsville, Sharonville, Springdale, St. Bernard, South Cumminsville, Symmes Township, Mason, Hamilton, Union Township, Walnut Hills, West Chester, Wyoming, West Price Hill, Westwood, Winton Hills, Alexandria, Bellevue, Covington, Crescent Springs, Erlanger, Fort Mitchell, Fort Thomas, Fort Wright, Florence, Hebron, Highland Heights, Newport, Southgate, Villa Hills, Walton, Aurora, Greendale, and Lawrenceburg.


            New Information:
            The Indiana family struck by a fatal medical mystery is thanking everyone for their prayers and asking them to stay calm. The Mcintosh family says doctors still don't know what killed 19-year-old Matt Mcintosh and has his sister Mindy in critical condition.

            Local 12's Joe Webb spoke with Matt and Mindy Mcintosh's mother today.

            She says they are still waiting for Matt's autopsy report for answers. They are sad and confused, but not scared.

            "I don't want people to be scared. I don't know why they're scared. I'm not sick."

            That's the message Katrina Mcintosh wants to send out to neighbors and friends. She says she's proof whatever killed her son, Matt, and has her daughter, Mindy, in intensive care must not be contagious, even though doctors are still baffled by it.

            Matt, known as "Skinny" died Sunday after first feeling ill two weeks ago. Mindy has been at University Hospital a week with the same symptoms... pneumonia and kidney failure. The two lived with their parents in rural Dearborn County, Indiana.

            The family is trying to nail down everything the two did together before they got sick.

            Katrina Mcintosh, Mother: "It's like trying to put together a puzzle that you don't have a box for and you're not sure if every piece belongs to that puzzle."

            Matt Mcintosh was the drummer in the rock band Strange on Display. A woman who sings with the band also got sick... so did Mcintosh's father. Doctors say it's unrelated.
            Roger Marquardt, Uncle: "As far as we know, there's no connection... a strange coincidence."

            Band members plan a benefit this weekend. They say Skinny was one of a kind.

            "Great friend. A big ball of fun. Best drummer you could ever imagine. Just a big-hearted guy. He loved and cared about everyone."

            "He was an awesome kid. He had the best hugs in the world. I've hugged a lot of people the last few days and I can't find any like his. I never will."

            The Dearborn County Health Department referred all calls to the Indiana State Department of Health. A spokesperson says they are aware of the situation and are taking appropriate action. They would not be more specific.
            Visitation for Matt Mcintosh is 5-8 pm Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Greendale. The funeral service is Friday morning.

            Previous story:
            A family from Dearborn County is asking for your prayers as their daughter clings to life in intensive care at University Hospital. An illness, which appeared to come on suddenly, has already taken the life of their son, who's just 19 years old.

            Matt and Mindy Mcintosh are well known around their community of Moores Hill. Matt played in a rock band called "Strange on Display."

            As Local 12's Liz Bonis tells us, the disturbing part is there is still no confirmation on what made these two young people so sick.

            Experts at University hospital say the cause of this first death is still unknown, and Mindy, his sister, is still in critical condition. They said they are waiting for tests to find out more. They do feel right now there is no danger due to illness to others in the hospital, but they are taking universal precautions. They also feel there's no danger to the community.

            Matt Mcintosh was airlifted to University Hospital from Dearborn County early last week, according to spokesperson Don Crouse.

            Don Crouse, University Hospital Spokesperson: "Basically, came in with double pneumonia, and renal failure, several days before he had been relatively healthy, performed with a local rock band and had played the Saturday before, so this illness was what appeared to be a fairly quick onset."

            Matt died Sunday and medical experts are now looking at autopsy results to see if anything they learn could help save his sister Mindy's life. Lab testing is on-going for viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

            Now, as you might imagine these test take awhile, we expect to hear more in the next 24 hours. Until then, the family continues to ask for our prayers.

            Local 12's Joe Webb also spent the day in Dearborn County and spoke to the band's lead singer who says she is also at University Hospital. She is expected to go home tomorrow.

            Matt is the drummer in the local band "Strange on Display." A neighbor says he became very sick during a performance more than a week ago and called his mother.

            Pay Cummins, Neighbor: "She came and got him and when he got home he was coughing, but he was coughing up blood."

            Matt Mcintosh is now dead. His sister is in a critical care unit, and another band member, Kristine Spielmann is also at University Hospital. She has been in isolation and under observation since Sunday with flu-like symptoms.

            Don Crouse says it doesn't appear Spielmann has the same ailment, but is being checked out because of contact with Mcintoshes.

            The Mcintoshes live in rural Dearborn County, near Moores Hill. Initial calls to Local 12 claimed they got sick after cleaning an outbuilding, a shed or barn and getting into some mold or dust. The hospital is taken a broad treatment approach.

            "It's being treated as either viral, bacterial or fungal. We don't really have any clue as to what we're dealing with, yet."

            The hospital has sent cultures for tests. A lot of people are anxious for answers.

            "It's puzzling. And it's scary because we live so close."

            The Mcintosh family did not want to comment on camera today. Through the hospital, the Mcintoshes thanked friends for their prayers and support. They also thanked the hospital for taking heroic efforts to save Matt. They also asked for continued prayers for Mindy Mcintosh.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

              Here is Matt's obituary. It doesn't mention the cause of death (because we still don't know it!), but it does give some kind of idea about his family members. Other than his mother, his entire immediate family is now ill.



              Matthew Paul "Skinny" McIntosh
              Matthew Paul "Skinny" McIntosh, 19, of Moores Hill, passed away Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the University Hospital in Cincinnati. He was born Aug. 1, 1989 in Lawrenceburg, the son of Mark and Katrina McIntosh.
              Survivors include parents; sister, Mindy, at home; one brother, Christopher, of Shelbyville; maternal grandfather, Roger (Rita) Marquardt of Napoleon; paternal grandmother, Ruby June McIntosh of Dillsboro; several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. His paternal grandfather, Alvin McIntosh and two uncles preceded him in death.
              Matthew graduated from South Dearborn High School in 2008. He was the drummer in a band called "Strange on Display" with his two best friends, Jimmy Wenstrup and Mike Dittmer. He was an active member of Emanuel Lutheran Church in Greendale.
              Funeral services will be held Friday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church (570 North Sheldon St.) in Greendale. Visitation will be Thursday, July 9 from 5-8 p.m. at the church with a time for remembrance by his friends at 8 p.m. Visitation will also be 9 a.m. at the church on Friday. Burial will be in the St. John?s Lutheran Cemetery in Napoleon.
              Memorials may be given to the family or the Emanuel Lutheran Church Youth Group. Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro is in charge of arrangements.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister



                Teen Dies After Sudden Illness; Sister Hospitalized
                Posted at 9:18 am on Wednesday, July 8, 2009 by Mike Perleberg
                (Cincinnati, OH) - A popular local teen's life is claimed by a disease - and doctors are not quite sure what it is.
                Matt "Skinny" McIntosh died Sunday at the age of 19 at University Hospital in Cincinnati after suddenly coming down with the mystery illness.

                "He wasn't feeling well on Wednesday and not even a week after that he was gone," his mother Katrina McIntosh told Eagle 99.3 on Tuesday.Entering the prime of his life, the Moores Hill teen was the drummer in a popular southeast Indiana band called Strange on Display. Matt had played at a party on last week when he became ill and asked his mother to come take him home. The group would have played the Aurora Firecracker Festival on Saturday if they had not been blindsided by Matt's death.

                WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT MATT MCINTOSH'S TRAGIC DEATH.

                "He was the kind of guy that if he walked into a room shaking your hand he would hug you by the time you left," his mother said.

                Friends and Matt's bandmates had been holding vigil at the hospital.

                "We really appreciate all the prayers and support. We didn't realize Matt had touched as many lives as he had," his mother said.

                The family is still at the hospital as Matt's 26-year-old sister Mindy McIntosh is fighting for her life now. She is in critical condition with similar symptoms to the illness that took her brother.

                Katrina McIntosh said Tuesday that Mindy's condition was improving, though she is not out of the woods.

                Kristine Spielman, a bandmate of Matt's, and her sister are also hospitalized at University with flu-like symptoms as a precaution.

                Matt's family says doctors at University were heroic in their efforts to try and save him. The disease that caused his death is still undetermined and the Indiana State Department of Health has joined the investigation. His obituary says his death was "due to complications of an undisclosed lung disease."

                Bird Flu and H1N1 have been ruled out.

                Phone calls seeking comment from the state health department were not returned on Tuesday.

                A memorial for Matt McIntosh, who would have turned 20 in August, has been arranged for Thursday, July 9 at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Greendale, which the family are members of. The visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with special remembrances form friends at 8:00.

                Matt's funeral is set for Friday at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Additional visitation will start at 9:00 a.m.

                The McIntosh family is asking for help with medical expenses. They can be made to the family or the Emanuel Lutheran Church Youth Group.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                  This video at the end says there is a positive test for influenza A for mindy, http://www.local12.com/mediacenter/l...rc.dayport.com obviously swine flu is not ruled out, it is a very real possibility. Might this be a mutated swine flu?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                    URGENT: This report now says Mindy has tested positive for Influenza A. I think H1N1 has now not been ruled out, and I now view Matt's as a suspected H1N1 death. Some of the Mexico cases did present with kidney failure, but coughing up blood is a new one as far as I can tell. Of course, if that diagnosis is correct, we know that this would be contagious, and the other cases are just milder. And we could forget about the barn.

                    Local 12 WKRC-TV is the local station for breaking news, weather forecasts, traffic alerts, community news, Cincinnati Bengals, Reds and FC Cincinnati sports updates, and CBS programming for the Cincinnati , Ohio area, including Avondale, Blue Ash, Bond Hill, Camp Washington, Cheviot, Cleves, Colerain Township, Columbia-Tusculum, Corryville, Norwood, Delhi, East Price Hill, Golf Manor, Hyde Park, Lebanon, Loveland, Lower Price Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Mount Adams, Mount Airy, Mount Healthy, Mount Lookout, Mount Washington, Oakley, Over-The-Rhine, Reading, Sedamsville, Sharonville, Springdale, St. Bernard, South Cumminsville, Symmes Township, Mason, Hamilton, Union Township, Walnut Hills, West Chester, Wyoming, West Price Hill, Westwood, Winton Hills, Alexandria, Bellevue, Covington, Crescent Springs, Erlanger, Fort Mitchell, Fort Thomas, Fort Wright, Florence, Hebron, Highland Heights, Newport, Southgate, Villa Hills, Walton, Aurora, Greendale, and Lawrenceburg.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                      Originally posted by alert View Post
                      URGENT: This report now says Mindy has tested positive for Influenza A. I think H1N1 has not been ruled out.

                      http://www.local12.com/mediacenter/l...rc.dayport.com
                      I just posted that, might this be a mutated swine flu?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                        Originally posted by Caligirl View Post
                        This video at the end says there is a positive test for influenza A for mindy, http://www.local12.com/mediacenter/l...rc.dayport.com obviously swine flu is not ruled out, it is a very real possibility. Might this be a mutated swine flu?
                        I don't think we even need to postulate a mutation. I think this could just be Pandemic H1N1. There is still only one death in this cluster, and the incubation period seems to be correct. That's what I love about a good laboratory. Things don't stay undiagnosed for long.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                          Why so severe illness in them then? If you have a family critically ill, then that is very suspicious for a mutation. Mindy is clinging for her life.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                            Possibly, but only two of them (Matt and Mindy) are critically ill. It seems a little like Kristine and the father might be milder cases. The pictures of Matt and Mindy seem to indicate they were at least a little overweight (hence Matt's nickname "Skinny"). Then again, this is a rural area (Dearborn county), as we know from the mention of the barn. Perhaps some of them contracted some other influenza from an animal.

                            Also, it is possible that they all also contracted some other slightly bizarre co-infection (Legionaire's? MRSA?). We await further testing...

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Indiana/Ohio: Doctors investigating mysterious death of man and critical illness of his sister

                              alert, meet me in the chat, I want to talk to you about this. I don't want to crowd the thread.

                              Comment

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