MMS Flu Advisory: First H1N1 Death in Mass. Announced

Today, the state Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) announced the first death in Massachusetts linked to H1N1 influenza. The victim was a 30 year old woman from Boston. The patient was hospitalized on June 5, and test results came back positive for H1N1 on June 10, the announcement said. She died yesterday, June 14.

BPHC and DPH officials said in the announcement that those at higher risk of complications from the flu--including children under the age of 2, adults over the age of 65, pregnant women, and people with chronic conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease--should call their doctor immediately to discuss appropriate treatment if they develop a fever with a cough, sore throat, or runny nose.

As of Sunday, June 14, there have been 441 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Boston and 54 hospitalizations.

As of 11:00 a.m. June 11, DPH had confirmed a total of 1,153 cases of H1N1 in the state.

Last Friday, the CDC was reporting a total of 17,855 cases of H1N1 flu infection and 45 deaths nationwide.

Last Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6, which means that a global pandemic is underway. The WHO’s declaration was expected, given that novel H1N1 flu (swine flu) has spread rapidly throughout the world including here in Massachusetts. It is important to note that the WHO pandemic phases are based on the geographical spread of a novel influenza virus, not the severity of illness. DPH stated that the WHO declaration did not change how the outbreak was being handled in Massachusetts.  

The state Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to work with partners at the local, state and federal levels on the H1N1 response in Massachusetts.

Read today’s health alert on the Boston Public Health Commission website.

Visit the DPH website for weekly case count and other guidance and information. CDC updates can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

International human cases of swine flu infection can be accessed through the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int/en/

Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health (June 12, 2009) and Boston Public Health Commission (June 15, 2009).

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