Health Department reports county’s first Swine flu death

News Sun

An elderly Gurnee man has become Lake County’s first victim of swine flu.

The Lake County Health Department is reporting that the 74-year-old man died shortly after being hospitalized on Tuesday, from complications due to the H1N1 flu virus. The unidentified man did have other medical conditions that increased his vulnerability to the virus, a health department spokeswoman said. He is the state’s fifth swine flu-related death.

 “We sincerely extend our sympathies to this individual’s family,” said Irene Pierce, the Health Department’s Executive Director. “While most cases of this illness are mild, pregnant women and individuals with chronic medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma or diabetes, should contact a health care professional about treatment if they think they have the flu.”

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