Swine flu confirmed in death of Fairbanks boy

State public health officials confirmed on the weekend that a 10-year old Fairbanks boy died last Friday from complications related to the swine flu virus.

State officials called a press conference on Sunday saying that lab specimens tested positive for the swine flu.

The boy was a elementary school student in Fairbanks. The school nurse sent the child home on Thursday around noon because he had flu symptoms. Later that day, he was admitted to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and then transferred to Providence Alaska in Anchorage the following day, where he died.

Also, an 11-month old baby with pre-existing medical conditions died last week in Anchorage from complications possibly related to H1N1 flu. State officials are still investigating.

Local school nurse Barbara Mercer said that the swine flu is present in the upper valley communities.

Despite the alarming news, acting state Public Health director Deborah Erickson cautioned not to panic. She said that most people who get H1N1 flu have a mild illness and quick recovery, but that the death of the 10-year old boy was a sobering reminder that it could be a serious illness.

Public Health spokesperson Clay Butcher said that H1N1 so far has not been more severe than the seasonal flu. The Center for Disease Control is working on a vaccine to be distributed nationwide. The first shipment of 35,000 doses is slated to arrive in Alaska in mid-October. Butcher said that the vaccine would be distributed first to high risk groups.