First King County death from swine flu

A man in his 70s with multiple health problems has died of complications from the swine flu, the first death in King County attributed to the new strain of influenza, according to Public Health — Seattle & King County.

The agency said the man had been hospitalized at the time of his death Thursday. Tests from the state lab confirmed the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, on Monday.

"This death is a tragic development and our hearts go out to the family," said Dr. David Fleming, the agency's director and health officer. Fleming said the number of new, serious infections continues to decline, but the agency is preparing for the anticipated return of the virus in the fall.

Forty-seven people have been hospitalized and 524 people confirmed with the swine flu in King County. The flu has hit children particularly hard.

About 57 percent of the cases nationally have been in people 5 to 25 years old. Forty-one percent of the hospitalizations are also among this age group, the health agency reported.

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the H1N1 virus a pandemic because it has spread widely around the world. But the virus has not increased in severity in King County or anywhere else, according to the health agency.

Locally, the swine flu has not been more severe than the typical seasonal flu, but since it is a new virus, many people do not have immunity to it. Public Health is working with health-care providers, schools and others to prepare for possible school closures and absences from work in the fall or winter.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com