Swine Flu UPDATE:NY School Official Dies From H1N1

Swine Flu UPDATE:NY School Official Dies From H1N1, on Sunday, May 17th, 2009. An New York middle school assistant principal who was hospitalized with the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, died Sunday apparently from flu complications, a hospital spokesman stated.

“Mitchell Weiner, 55, assistant principal at Intermediate School 238 in Queens, died at 6:17 p.m. Sunday, May 17th, 2009, at the Flushing Hospital,” spokesman Andrew Rubin stated.

(pic) New York City Health Commissioner Thomas R. Frieden reports a rising tide of flu in the city.

Mitchell Weiner, 55, assistant principal at Intermediate School 238 in Queens, died at 6:17 p.m. Sunday, Flushing Hospital spokesman Andrew Rubin said.

“We believe he had complications of the swine flu, and added that once Weiner was admitted to the hospital, he was listed in critical condition,” Rubin continued. However, he wouldn’t say whether Weiner had any pre-existing medical conditions.

“It is with great sadness tonight that we learn that New York has lost one of its residents to an illness related to H1N1,” New York Gov. David Paterson stated.

“We’re trying to identify that and ascertain whether those problems were exacerbated by the flu or whether it’s totally unrelated,” Bloomberg said at the time.

Since the H1N1 outbreak surfaced last month, CDC has linked four U.S. deaths to the virus:
A Washington state man with heart problems who died from flu complications.
An Arizona woman with lung disease.
A Mexican toddler who was visiting with her family.
A pregnant woman who had been on life support since April.
All had preexisting medical problems.

Weiner’s school was one of eight schools temporarily closed in New York due to flu concerns.

“With the virus spreading widely, closing these and other individual schools will make little difference in transmission throughout New York City, but we hope will help slow transmission within the individual school communities,” states Health Officials.

The flu strain, which is believed to have originated in Mexico, killed dozens of people there, causing U.S. officials to worry that it could take a similar toll after spreading across the border. But it has only acted similar to typical seasonal influenza, which usually can be treated successfully but can be deadly among the very old, very young and people with preexisting health problems.

Swine Flu UPDATE:NY School Official Dies From H1N1, CDC believes that there is no immediate concern other than the typical flu season. For the full story, go to CNN News.