Swine flu deaths rise to 53 across the world
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 11, 2009 00:00
SEATTLE - The number of swine flu-related deaths around the world climbed to at least 53 after the U.S. reported its third fatality and Costa Rica its first, but both men also suffered from complicating illnesses, health officials said.
In Mexico, the center of the outbreak where 48 people with swine flu have died, most of the victims have been adults aged 20 to 49, and many had no reported complicating factors.
Elsewhere, five others have died while infected with the virus, including the two fatalities reported Saturday, but each of them had additional health issues. People with chronic illnesses usually are at greatest risk for severe problems from flu, along with the elderly and young children. In Washington state, officials said a man in his 30s had underlying heart conditions and viral pneumonia when he died Thursday from what appeared to be complications from swine flu. The state Department of Health said in a release Saturday that swine flu was considered a factor in his death.
"We're working with local and federal partners to track this outbreak," Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said. "We urge people to take this outbreak, and the seasonal flu we see every year, very seriously."
The death of a 53-year-old man in Costa Rica on Saturday was the first involving flu outside of North America.
Previously, U.S. reported swine flu deaths of a toddler with a heart defect and a woman with rheumatoid arthritis, and Canadian officials said the woman who died there also had other health problems but gave no details.
Elsewhere, five others have died while infected with the virus, including the two fatalities reported Saturday, but each of them had additional health issues. People with chronic illnesses usually are at greatest risk for severe problems from flu, along with the elderly and young children. In Washington state, officials said a man in his 30s had underlying heart conditions and viral pneumonia when he died Thursday from what appeared to be complications from swine flu. The state Department of Health said in a release Saturday that swine flu was considered a factor in his death.
"We're working with local and federal partners to track this outbreak," Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky said. "We urge people to take this outbreak, and the seasonal flu we see every year, very seriously."
The death of a 53-year-old man in Costa Rica on Saturday was the first involving flu outside of North America.
Previously, U.S. reported swine flu deaths of a toddler with a heart defect and a woman with rheumatoid arthritis, and Canadian officials said the woman who died there also had other health problems but gave no details.