Announcement

**Shiloh** · September 1, 2009, 02:59 PM

Re: Cameron Co.: Possible H1N1 Related Death in Valley- Confirmed

Source: http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=344704

Brownsville death confirmed as H1N1

Tuesday, September 01, 2009 at 2:33 p.m.

Health officials have confirmed that a Brownsville man is the latest victim of H1N1 virus.

Action 4 News reported the 30-year-old man's death last week.

Texas state health officials confirmed Tuesday that the lab result came back positive for the H1N1 virus.

Authorities told Action 4 News that the man had been hospitalized but also suffered from an underlying medical condition.

Health officials said it?s especially important for people who are suffering from flu-like symptoms and are considered high risk people to seek immediate medical care.

Those with pre-existing medical conditions like asthma, extreme obesity, poorly controlled diabetes or those who are pregnant are highest at risk from the H1N1 virus.

**Shiloh** · September 2, 2009, 07:40 AM

Re: Cameron Co.: Possible H1N1 Related Death in Valley- Confirmed

Source: http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/new...th-assist.html

Swine flu kills local man
Comments 1 | Recommend 0
September 01, 2009 10:10 PM
By EMMA PEREZ-TREVINO, The Brownsville Herald

A benefit is planned for a Brownsville man who died of the H1N1 flu virus last week to assist his two-month-old daughter, the flu victim?s first-cousin city Commissioner Ricardo Longoria Jr. said late Tuesday.

Longoria?s 30-year-old cousin, Eli Daniel Navarro, of Impala Drive in Southmost passed away Thursday during treatment for pneumonia.

"It?s very difficult," Longoria said.

Longoria said his cousin fell unconscious and that doctors were not able to find out where he could have contracted the virus. Family members have been tested and they are all fine, Longoria said.

Navarro?s mother, Lilia Navarro, said that everyone should take precautions and practice good hygiene.

"Mi hijo era muy lindo (My son was a dear son)," Navarro said. "He was a good son, husband and father."

Navarro said that her son suffered from asthma and allergies and developed pneumonia.

Longoria remembered his cousin as a gifted musician who was in a Christian band called Grupo Pazz. "He was such a good guy," Longoria said, adding that fellow musicians are planning a benefit to also bring awareness to the flu.

State Regional Medical Director Dr. Brian Smith said, "There is ongoing transmission of the virus in all of South Texas."

"The disease is being transmitted regularly," Smith added.

Navarro?s death is believed to be the third death related to the virus in Cameron County.

The state discontinued reporting H1N1 cases effective Aug. 1, following similar actions by the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But as reported earlier, at the end of July, 400 cases were reported in Cameron County with two deaths attributed to H1N1 and more than 1,300 cases were reported in Hidalgo County and 10 deaths.

Smith also cautioned, however, that people have died of the seasonal influenza by a rate of 10 times more than from the H1N1 flu.

"The seasonal influenza is just as important as H1N1," Smith said.

Smith again reminded residents that people who display flu symptoms need to stay home and that people should get vaccinated when a vaccine becomes available sometime in October.