Man succumbs to swine flu

Butte County health officials announced the first local death attributed to the H1N1 virus.

The virus—also commonly referred to as the swine flu—claimed the life of a man older than 65 who had “multiple underlying health conditions.”

In a press release, Mark Lundberg, Butte County’s health officer, used the news to remind the public about the serious nature of the virus: “His death is a sad reminder that the pandemic H1N1 flu, while usually causing mild-to-moderate illness, can lead to serious illness and death for some people.”

Nearly 150 people in the county have confirmed cases of the swine flu. Of the 38 who have been hospitalized, 13 have required intensive care. Those who have gotten ill range from 3 months to 71 years old.