Harlingen woman dies of swine flu

Cameron County is recording its first death from the H1NI flu or swine flu.

State health officials are reporting the 33-year-old Harlingen woman, who had underlying health conditions, died this week according to county health officials.

The woman's diagnosis makes her the second confirmed case of the H1N1 flu in Cameron County and the 61st in the state.

Health officials say the victim had been pregnant. She gave birth and they say the newborn is doing fine.

Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said although residents should remain cautious, they should not be alarmed. Cascos said the woman, along with the toddler from Mexico, who also died from swine flu last month, both had underlying health conditions.

Media reports reveal the woman had been battling the flu for about two weeks.

The toddler had a chronic respiratory condition diagnosed at birth. During the couple of weeks before he died, he developed a high fever and later pneumonia. He died at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

"We will continue the same protocol," Cascos said indicating county officials will continue to consult with state health officials on the H1NI virus.

He said residents should go to the doctor when they start feeling the onset of a flu instead of waiting until the virus has reached full force.

Health officials are urging residents to continue to take necessary precautions such as frequent hand washing, the covering of the mouth and nose when they sneeze or cough and to stay home if they are sick.

Several school districts throughout the county and the rest of the Rio Grande Valley have closed because of the H1NI virus. The Brownsville, San Benito, Rio Hondo, Harlingen, Santa Rosa and Mercedes school districts will be closed for at least a week or more. The Weslaco school district extended its closure an additional week.

For more on this developing story, stay with www.BrownsvilleHerald.com.