Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

[GennieF]

Local woman with swine flu dies

By Mike Baird (Contact)
Originally published 08:38 a.m., August 4, 2009
Updated 08:39 a.m., August 4, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI ? A local woman who was hospitalized at Christus Spohn Hospital South since July 22 died late Monday, according to her husband. The woman had developed viral pneumonia as a result of the swine flu (H1N1).

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/aug/04/breaking_news_080409/

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

The full article
Source: http://www.caller.com/news/2009/aug/04/breaking_news_080409/

Local woman with swine flu dies

By Mike Baird (Contact)
Originally published 08:38 a.m., August 4, 2009
Updated 09:00 a.m., August 4, 2009


CORPUS CHRISTI ? A second person with swine flu in Nueces County has died.

Melissa Cantu, 31, who has been hospitalized two weeks on a ventilator from complications of swine flu, died about 11:30 p.m. Monday, family members said.

Cantu, a 1996 graduate of Ray High School, was with her husband and children in San Antonio when she developed initial symptoms, said her husband Abram Cantu, 32. He was with her at Christus Spohn Hospital South when she died, he said.

?We?re in shock from how fast this went,? Cantu said Tuesday. ?She?s never had health problems before, and has been such a fighter, but her lungs couldn?t fight off the pneumonia and flu virus.?

The couple has been married about 7 years. They have two children, Brittany Nicole Aguilar, 12, and A.J. Cantu, 3.

Melissa Cantu worked as an office manager for a Corpus Christi pediatrician. She loved children, her husband said.

Coworkers and friends have planned a barbecue to raise funds for the Cantus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 9 where she worked, the office of Dr. Luisa Lira, 4621 S. Staples St.

?We will need the help more than ever now,? said Abram Cantu, a helicopter repairman at Corpus Christi Army Depot.

An account in the names of Melissa and Abram Cantu has been set up at Navy Army Federal Credit Union.

Melissa Cantu also is survived by her parents, Guadalupe and Elvia Gonzalez of Corpus Christi, two brothers and four sisters.

Services are pending at Trevi?o Funeral Home.

Nueces County?s first death associated with swine flu was Carlos Garnica, 33. He died May 6 of viral pneumonia at Northwest Regional Hospital in Calallen. After his death, authorities confirmed he had swine flu.

 

[GennieF]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

City-County Public Health District Confirms Second Local Death Due to H1N1 Flu Virus

Updated: Aug 4, 2009 11:39 AM

The Corpus Christi - Nueces County Public Health District announced that it has received confirmation of a second death in Nueces County as a result of the H1N1 Flu Virus, which is commonly referred to as the "Swine Flu." The woman, who was a Corpus Christi resident, died at 11:24 p.m. on August 3, 2009 at Spohn South Hospital.

According to Dr. William Burgin, Jr., Local Health Authority, the woman had been hospitalized since July 20, 2009. The woman, who was in her early thirties, reportedly did not have a history of travel to Mexico or any medical condition prior to the onset of the illness.

The Health District also reports that Nueces County has so far had 117 confirmed cases of the Swine Flu Virus. As previously mentioned, this makes for a total of two deaths in Nueces County since the Swine Flu Virus outbreak began in late April of this year.

The symptoms of Swine Flu in people are similar to those of regular or seasonal flu and include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, sore throat and/or coughing. Some of those who contracted Swine Flu have also reported runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased," Dr. Burgin said. "Most Swine Flu cases to date are relatively mild, but in some case death can occur. "We are seeing more hospitalizations on the second wave of this flu," Burgin added.

The Health District advises citizens to follow these standard precautions to reduce the spread of any respiratory illness:

* Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol based sanitizer.

* Stay home when you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others.

* Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.

* Get your flu shot this year, both the "regular" flu and Swine Flu vaccines when they are available.


http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10844587

 

[wotan]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

The woman, who was in her early thirties, reportedly did not have a history of travel to Mexico or any medical condition prior to the onset of the illness.

Why are people still talking about travel to Mexico? That has been a non-issue in Texas since May if not sooner.

 

[GennieF]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

Gotta find something to blame the death on, if not the flu, right?

 

[Giuseppe]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased," Dr. Burgin said. "Most Swine Flu cases to date are relatively mild, but in some case death can occur. "We are seeing more hospitalizations on the second wave of this flu," Burgin added.

Second Wave?

This implies the presence of an antigenic distinct (drift) H1N1 2009 strain, at least.

Or a variant with different internal genes (polymerase complex, for example) constellation.

Have these authorities some data about antigenic characterization of this ''2nd wave'' H1N1 2009 viruses?

 

[wotan]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

Second Wave?

This implies the presence of an antigenic distinct (drift) H1N1 2009 strain, at least.

Or a variant with different internal genes (polymerase complex, for example) constellation.

Have these authorities some data about antigenic characterization of this ''2nd wave'' H1N1 2009 viruses?

I caught that, but I think it was more of a casual use of the term. Influenza activity in Texas has been relatively low lately (if the surveillance is believable, see my thread yesterday about the large amount of swine flu recorded at TCH in Houston this summer) for several weeks. The reported second wave could simply be an increase in cases as children come home from camps, etc.

 

[dwells57]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

http://www.caller.com/news/2009/aug/03/swine-flu-cases-reach-117/


The above article does not easily come up on searchs. Text below.
There are more people in the hospitals here. In addition, as i previously posted in another thread, there is at least one other individual on a ventilator, the brother in law of one of my wifes coworkers, who is near death today, yet they do not have the results back on his test. One of the others mentioned in the article, previously identified as a 21 year old male is also on a ventilator. It is looking pretty grim here..

Swine flu cases reach 117
By Susan McFarland (Contact)
Monday, August 3, 2009

CORPUS CHRISTI ? Confirmed swine flu cases in Nueces County have climbed to 117, a health official said Monday.

Three adults and two children are hospitalized with the swine flu, also known as H1N1, said Dr. William Burgin, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District health authority.

Burgin said one patient, a 31-year-old woman, remains on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at Christus Spohn Hospital South. The other four are not as serious, he said.

A Corpus Christi State School resident confirmed to have swine flu last week is doing well and hasn?t had to be admitted to a hospital, Burgin said.

Burgin said a pregnant woman suspected of having swine flu was transferred July 30 from one of the Christus Spohn hospitals to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Her flu test results are pending, he said.

Burgin said he did not have details about her age, condition or why she was transferred.

 

[wotan]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

Burgin said a pregnant woman suspected of having swine flu was transferred July 30 from one of the Christus Spohn hospitals to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Her flu test results are pending, he said.

Interesting, UTMB has not fully recovered from Hurricane Ike yet.

 

[silvergirl]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

Why are people still talking about travel to Mexico? That has been a non-issue in Texas since May if not sooner.

At our hospital our log in screens say, "only test those who have travelled to areas where H1N1 is known (uh...the entire USA?), or those with fever of unknown origin or ILI in absence of known origin (pneumonia? I mean what does that mean!!!???)." In other words-if you they have a UTI and a cough-assume the fever is the UTI....I have been asking questions of infection control nurses but haven't got very far....

 

[GennieF]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

Local Woman Dies From Swine Flu

Updated: Aug 4, 2009 05:23 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI - Local health officials have confirmed that a 31-year-old woman died at a Christus Spohn South Hospital Monday night because of complications from swine flu.

It's a mystery on how the Melissa Cantu, a mother of two, contracted swine flu.

Dr. William Burgin with the City/County Health Department said Cantu didn't travel outside the country and she didn't have any known medical conditions.

"It is a disease to take seriously and one that can kill, as we saw in this particular case," Burgin stated.

Dr. Burgin said Cantu first started feeling sick during a trip with her family to San Antonio.

They came home to Corpus Christi, and on arrival, she was having some difficulty. She was seen by her local doctor, who hospitalized her.

"In this state-of-the-art facility, a nasal swab from Cantu and other swine flu victims is tested. In as little as eight hours, the results can be known," Burgin explained. "We have a more advanced level of lab than other facilities locally. We are one of the few labs in the state that can test for various bacteria agents."

With the advanced lab at the health department, doctors don't have to send test results far, so treatment can begin quickly for patients testing positive.

Currently, there's 117 people being treated for the swine flu in Nueces County.

Dr. Burgin believes six of those are hospitalized, including two children and a pregnant woman.

A memorial service will be held for Cantu on Thursday at Saint Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church.

In addition, the first confirmed swine flu death in Corpus Christi was back in May. When 33-year-old Carlos Garnica died of viral pneumonia brought on by the flu.

He had just moved into some apartments in the Annaville area when he became ill.

Garnica commuted between Corpus Christi and the Valley, and it's not clear how or where he contracted the virus.

He also had other health issues, including morbid obesity, an enlarged heart, hepatitis and sleep apnea.

Online Reporter: Melissa Schroeder

http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10847127&nav=Bsmh

 

[GennieF]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

KIIITV News

Story Created: Aug 4, 2009 at 6:36 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 4, 2009 at 6:36 PM CDT

(8-4-09)
Abram Cantu says half of his heart died on Monday night at Spohn South Hospital. His wife Melissa passed away after fighting the swine flu for two weeks. Melissa was an office manager at a local doctor's office who went on a family vacaction in mid July to the San Antonio area. At the end of that trip, she began coughing and feeling tired. She went to the doctor and they found she had pneumonia. Then, more tests revealed she had swine flu. Within three days she wasn't able to breathe on her own and was placed on a ventilator. She never regained consciousness and finally died just before 11:30 on Monday night.

Michael Gibson
3 News


Video at link

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/52472937.html

 

[MedTroll]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

KIIITV News

Story Created: Aug 4, 2009 at 6:36 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 4, 2009 at 6:36 PM CDT

(8-4-09)
Abram Cantu says half of his heart died on Monday night at Spohn South Hospital. His wife Melissa passed away after fighting the swine flu for two weeks. Melissa was an office manager at a local doctor's office who went on a family vacaction in mid July to the San Antonio area. At the end of that trip, she began coughing and feeling tired. She went to the doctor and they found she had pneumonia. Then, more tests revealed she had swine flu. Within three days she wasn't able to breathe on her own and was placed on a ventilator. She never regained consciousness and finally died just before 11:30 on Monday night.

Michael Gibson
3 News


Video at link

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/local/52472937.html

Thanks for your report. A link to your report has been included in the FluTrackers database.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Corpus Christi, Texas: Local woman with swine flu dies

Source: http://www.kztv10.com/news2005/viewarticle.asp?a=9508

CC Woman Dies of Swine Flu -
Another person here in Corpus Christi has died from the Swine Flu. The city-county health district confirmed the death Tuesday morning

According to a press release, the woman -- who was in her early 30's -- passed away Monday night at Spohn South Hospital.

Action 10 News is told she had been hospitalized since July 20, and that she did not have any history of travel to Mexico.. *nor did she have any medical conditions prior to contracting the H1N1 virus.

"She basically, I understand, had gone to Schlitterbahn and became ill, came back home, saw her doctor who diagnosed her with flu-like illness. She deteriorated and had to be put on a ventilator in the ICU, then continued to be in critical condition and continued to deteriorate to the time of her death last night," said local Health Authority Dr. William Burgin.

The woman has been identified as Melissa Cantu.

Cantu is the second local Swine Flu-related death in Nueces County since the outbreak began in late April.

On May 6, Carlos Garnica, 33, of Corpus Christi died as a result of Swine Flu -- however, officials say he also suffered from other serious health problems.