Montco man dies of complications from swine flu

A 58-year-old Montgomery County resident with multiple underlying medical conditions has died of complications from swine flu, officials reported last night.

The man, who had been hospitalized since Oct. 19 with pneumonia and other respiratory issues, died Monday, said C. Michael Baysinger, the county's deputy directory for personal health services. No further details were available.

It was the first swine flu-related death in Montgomery County this fall and the second since the disease first appeared in April. One person died of novel H1N1 in Philadelphia earlier this month, bringing the city's total to nine, city officials said.

At least 18 people have died in Pennsylvania from the disease, including six this fall. All were adults. New Jersey earlier this week reported its 19th death, a 17-year-old high school student in Burlington County. Small amounts of vaccine have begun to arrive in the region. - Don Sapatkin