Alice man, 38, died of H1N1

[Roehl_JC]

CORPUS CHRISTI ? Health officials on Monday confirmed swine flu played a role in the death of an Alice man during the weekend.

Jim Wells County had not reported any previous H1N1-related deaths to the Texas Department of State Health Services, according to online reports, the latest of which was Oct. 10.

Dr. Brian Smith, regional medical director for the Texas Department of State Health Services, had few details late Monday, but was able to confirm the death of a 38-year-old man with the H1N1 virus.

Gilberto Garcia, 38, died Saturday of pneumonia and swine flu, his common-law wife, Marisol Rivera, said. She said he didn?t have any known medical conditions that were a factor.

Garcia starting feeling sick with a fever, cough and sore throat on Oct. 4, Rivera said.

Garcia checked in to a hospital in Alice on Oct. 6 where he stayed for six days before being transferred to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial, Rivera said.

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/oct/19/alice-man-dies-of-swine-flu/

[Shiloh]

Re: Alice man, 38, died of H1N1

Source: http://www.kztv10.com/news2005/viewarticle.asp?a=9730

First H1N1 Death in Jim Wells County -
The H1N1 virus has claimed its first victim in Jim Wells County.

Thirty-eight-year-old Gilberto Garcia of Alice died Saturday at Christus Spohn Memorial Hospital.

Garcia reportedly started feeling sick on October 4th and was hospitalized in Alice for six days before being transferred to Corpus Christi.

Local Health Authority Doctor William Burgin said Tuesday that Garcia had pre-existing medical conditions.

"He was a diabetic," Dr. Burgin said. "I understand he was overweight as well."

Dr. Burgin said Garcia's kidneys also started to fail while he was hospitalized.

Garcia's common law wife told Action Ten News Tuesday that Garcia leaves behind seven kids and five grandchildren.

She said Garcia was a good person who enjoyed helping people.