Identical twins critically ill with Swine Flu ( one dead)

[tetano]

EVERETT, Wash. -- Parents of two Stanwood brothers, critically ill with Swine Flu, are pleading with everyone to get a flu vaccination if you haven't already received one.

Steve and Mike Wolfe, 31, were living together and became sick in early March. Their illnesses rapidly progressed and both developed pneumonia. They are now in critical condition at Providence Regional Medical Center.

The brothers, born 4 minutes apart, were admitted to the hospital less than a day apart and remain on ventilators.

"We don't know how they got it," their father, Don Wolfe, said. "But they didn't get their flu shot."

Fewer people are getting vaccinated compared to last year, local health officials say, and fewer people have been hospitalized with the flu virus. But doctors say the flu threat is still real and flu season is peaking late this year.


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http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Identical-Twins-Critically-Ill-with-Swine-Flu-118543099.html

[tetano]

Re: Identical twins critically ill with Swine Flu

Twin brother dies of complications from swine flu

STANWOOD, Wash. -- One of two critically ill twin brothers stricken with swine flu has died, according to local reports.

The Everett Herald reported Monday that Michael Wolfe, 31, died Saturday at Providence Regional Medical Center, where he was hospitalized.

Michael and his twin brother Steve became sick with swine flu in March and contracted pneumonia. The brothers lived together and did not receive a flu shot, their father, Don Wolfe, said.

Steve remains hospitalized at Providence Regional Medical Center.

http://www.king5.com/health/One-of-two-twins-119204344.html

[tetano]

Re: Identical twins critically ill with Swine Flu ( one dead)

Steve Wolfe recounts his fight with swine flu; his twin didn?t survive

CAMANO ISLAND -- For three weeks, Steve Wolfe wavered between life and death.

"They said I almost died four or five times," he said.

His fever spiked at 104 degrees. His heartbeat peaked at 220 beats a minute.

"For days and days, he was right on the edge" said Dr. Mohammed Alhyraba, a critical care physician at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. "We had very little room to maneuver with."

Steve Wolfe was sickened with swine flu in late February. His 31-year-old twin brother, Mike Wolfe, became ill about 36 hours later.

At first they thought: "We'll fight through this; it's the flu," Steve Wolfe remembers.

But there was something different about it. "The cough," he said. "It felt like our ribs were cracking."

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http://heraldnet.com/article/20110411/NEWS01/704119874&SectionCat=NEWS01