First swine flu related fatality in Oneida County
Story Created:
Jul 9, 2009 at 8:05 AM EST
Story Updated:
Jul 9, 2009 at 5:04 PM EST
ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. (WKTV) - An adolescent in Oneida County being treated in Syracuse for H1N1, or swine flu, has died, health officials said.
This was the 5th confirmed case of H1N1, or "swine flu," in the county, and the first to result in a patient's death since the outbreak of this strain of influenza began in April.
In all other Oneida County cases reported thus far, the patients had fully recovered from the illness before laboratory confirmation of the virus, health officials said.
The victim was an adolescent who lives in Oneida County and was being treated at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse when they died, Oneida County Health Officials said. The New York State Wadsworth Laboratory confirmed the patient had Type A, H1N1 influenza virus, in addition to another underlying medical condition, at the time of his death.
Although officials would say the person had a pre-existing condition, they wouldn't elaborate on what it was, the person's home town, age, name or travel history.
"I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our young residents as a result of this illness," said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente. "I know the thoughts and prayers of all Oneida County residents are with the family and friends at this time of their loss."
Health officials say to be concerned but not overly alarmed by this death.
Although this really has an impact on the community we feel bad about this we do have to keep into perspective that influenza is something that we need to deal with," said Linda Kokoszki, Infection Prevention Coordinator at St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
Influenza & Swine Flu
Influenza generally kills thousands nationwide each year, but the story changed this year when numerous Americans and Mexicans fell in in April to the new H1N1 virus.
In United States more than 170 out of 33,000 confirmed cases have died.
Vaccine
In May, the Federal government pledged $932 million for bulk vaccine among other measures.
GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Sanofi Pasteur,CSL Biotherapies and MedImmune are the companies being paid to generate vaccines.
CDC's take
CDC Senior spokesperson Joseph Quimby released this statement regarding vaccine production
"The CDC in conjunction with the World Health Organization are monitoring the flu conditions in the Southern Hemisphere when it comes to the new flu, the new H1N1, and we will have a better idea of what our fall season will look like later this summer."
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