First swine flu death in U.S. reported; NJ and Del. await tests for nine cases

As New Jersey and Delaware wait for confirmation that nine people in those states were infected with Mexican swine flu, federal health officials today announced the first illness-related death in the United States.

The Centers for Disease Control said a 23-month old Mexican boy infected with swine flu died in Houston Monday night. The child had traveled with his family from Mexico to Texas and became ill in Brownsville, Houston health officials said.

Experts had said it was only a matter of time before someone died from the virus in the United States. About 36,000 people die from flu-related causes annually, according to the CDC.

Last night, University of Delaware officials announced four "probable" cases of the swine flu among students there. And New Jersey officials expect to hear soon whether five "probable" cases reported there earlier are indeed swine flu.

At a news conference this morning in Wilmington, University of Delaware President Patrick Harker said the school with 20,000 students would remain open, but officials would review the situation day by day.

Some activities might be cancelled, he said.

The state sent 50 nurses and other health professionals to establish a second health center at the campus capable of assisting up to 5,000 students, officials said.

Two of the sick students live on campus and the other two live off campus. None has been to Mexico and none has had contact with anyone from Mexico. They apparently do not know each other, the officials said. One of the students who lives off campus has gone home to recover.

Harker said about 100 students have shown up at the school health centers complaining of respiratory problems, but that is actually below normal for this time of year.

"While we expect the numbers to be higher, we don't expect they will be higher by an order of magnitide," he said.

Students arriving at the clinics are being given masks to prevent the spread of infection by coughing. Anyone with flu-like symptoms is being given anti-viral medicine and told to stay home for two days after the symptoms end, students said.

Harker said said keeping the school open would allow officials to both track a possible outbreak and treat sick students, if needed.

"We have to keep this in perspective," said Gov. Jack A. Markell. "The students have come down with only minor symptoms."

Paul Silverman, Delaware's public health director, said it will take to two to to three days before the cases can be confirmed because of a backlog of test requests at the CDC.

"As you can imagine, the CDC is getting swamped," he said.

James Newman, chief medical officer of Christiana Care, which operated two hospitals, said there had been no unusual bump in the number of emergency room patients.

He said this is a normal time of year for outbreaks of standard flu strains and that people with symptoms should not assume they have contracted the swine virus.

University officials sent out text messages, emails and recorded voice messages last night alerting the student body of the reported cases.

Officials advised students who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or who have recently traveled to Mexico to visit a special clinic at the Carpenter Sports Building staffed by officials from the State Division of Public Health.

Freshman Rachel Falk, 19, went to the clinic with a fever, body aches and a bad cough. She said her roommate also is ill with flu-like symptoms.

"My roommate went to a fraternity formal with someone who recently went to Mexico," Falk said.

She said the assessment inside the clinic was brief. After filling out a form indicating her symptoms, she met with a doctor and was given Tamiflu.

"I cannot go to class until two days after my symptoms end," Falk said. "I feel better that I have medication."

Students are required to wear a mask before entering the clinic, and their symptoms are immediately evaluated. Officials running the clinic declined comment.

Senior Katie Fransen, 21, said she went to the clinic for common cold symptoms.

"They told me since my symptoms are taking care of themselves there is nothing to worry about," Fransen said.

She said there are about 100 people working inside the clinic, wearing red vests and masks.

"I'm just going to let my cold run its course," Fransen said. "I guess it's nice to know I don't have swine flu. Other than that, I should be sleeping right now."

At a student center central to campus, sophomore Kristen Baine, of Bear, Delaware, said she received all the alerts from the university. The system also recorded a message at her parents' home.

"My mom's nervous," Baine said. "I bring hand sanitizer around with me. I'm an education major so I'm already in the habit of washing my hands."

Junior Crandal Chestnutt, 21, said he noticed less students attending class.

"There are not too many people walking around campus today," Chestnutt said. "I have my Purell in my bag."

At Happy Harry's Walgreens Pharmacy on campus, a table with hand sanitizer and wipes is displayed at the entrance of the store encouraging students to protect themselves against swine flu.

Alice Fraser, a cashier at Happy Harry's, said students have bought a lot of hand sanitizer, but not too many masks at this point.

"I use hand sanitizer and I have gloves if I feel I need them," Fraser said. "We interact with so many students, and I would become to paranoid if I worried about catching it."