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1st swine flu deaths in Hillsborough, Hernando reported

News Channel 8 photo by WALLY PATANOW

State Health Department lab workers prepare samples to be screened for swine flu at their facility in Tampa.

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TBO.com

Published: July 23, 2009

Updated: 07/23/2009 11:41 am

TAMPA - Two men in Hillsborough and one in Hernando have died from swine flu, the first reported deaths attributed to the virus in both counties.

The Hillsborough County Health Department said today laboratory tests confirmed a 44-year-old man and 49-year-old man died from the H1N1 strain.

Both had other medical conditions that put them at risk for complications from the flu, the health department said.

The Hernando County Health Department said it was unclear whether the 40-year-old man who died had other health problems that made him more vulnerable to swine flu.

The deaths bring the number of swine flu deaths in Florida to 25. The state Health Department reported Wednesday that 10 more people died from the disease during the past week.

"We offer our condolences to the individuals' family and friends for their loss," Hillsborough County Health Department director Douglas Holt said in a news release.

There are about 2,915 cases of swine flu in Florida and about 140 in Hillsborough.

The majority of the deaths the state announced Wednesday were in Southeast Florida. One, a 31-year-old man, was in Polk County.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says on its Web site that people who might be at a higher risk of complications for seasonal flu also will be at risk for swine flu.

People 65 or older and younger than 5 are the most at risk for complications, especially children younger than 2.

Illnesses and conditions such as asthma, and kidney, neuromuscular or metabolic disorders are also at risk of the swine flu becoming more serious than the simple flu.

The CDC also said people who are HIV positive or with compromised immunity systems from medications are at risk for complications, as are pregnant women. Also, all residents of nursing homes or chronic-care facilities are at risk.

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