Third swine flu death in AK confirmed

State public health officials have confirmed the third death from complications related to the swine flu virus.

This past weekend, a 10 year old boy from Fairbanks died. State officials called a press conference on Sunday to say that lab specimens tested positive for the flu. Late yesterday, officials confirmed the death of a Seward woman was related to complications from the swine flu. She had pre existing conditions and died from a combinations of respiratory and pre existing health problems.

Local school nurse Barbara Mercer confirms that swine flu is present in the upper valley community schools.

Despite the alarming news, acting state Public Health director Deborah Erickson cautions not to panic. She says that most people who get the H1N1 flu have a mild illness and quick recovery, but the death of the Fairbanks boy is a sobering reminder that it can be a serious illness.

Public Health spokesperson Clay Butcher says that H1N1 so far, overall, has not been more severe than the seasonal flu.

According to the Center for Disease Control Alaska is one of 6 states that have reported widespread influenza activity in August. Others are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.

KTNA will be dedicating an hour discussion to the H1N1 virus on Friday at 11 am. It’s a call in show…we’ll have health care providers and officials on hand to discuss what is happening in the upper valley. We will rebroadcast the taped show next week for those unable to listen on Friday morning.