Alaska Reports 1 Death in Week 43

[JimO]

Source: http://www.epi.alaska.gov/id/influenza/influenza.jsp

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Alaska Reports 1 Death in Week 43

Comparing to previous deaths by age charts, the new death is in the 25-49 age group.

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[JimO]

Re: Alaska Reports 1 Death in Week 43

Source: http://www.adn.com/life/health/story/1001471.html

Fairbanks woman dies from swine flu in October
By ROSEMARY SHINOHARA
rshinohara@adn.com
Published: November 5th, 2009 04:04 PM

A sixth Alaskan, a woman from Fairbanks, has died from swine flu, state Department of Health and Social Services officials said.

The woman died on Oct. 27th.

In September the state quit issuing notices when someone dies of the H1N1 influenza, so her death was noted only on a weekly chart of deaths and hospitalizations compiled by the state this week.

The woman was middle-aged and had multiple existing health conditions that contributed to her death, said Greg Wilkinson, spokesman for the Health Department.

A laboratory test confirmed she had swine flu, he said.

Four of the six Alaskans who died from swine flu have been Fairbanks women. All of them had pre-existing medical conditions.

The first was in her 40s and died while visiting family in Washington state July 16.

Two more Fairbanks women died Sept. 24.

The other two Alaskans to die were a Seward woman in her 50s, who died Aug. 28, and a 10-year-old Fairbanks boy who died Sept. 4.

The state initially announced each death from swine flu to demonstrate that it can be lethal, a state official said in September. People are now aware of that fact, so as of late September, the state quit telling people about individual deaths.