WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. -- Local health officials have determined that a woman who passed away Wednesday was likely Whatcom County’s first swine flu-related death.
County health officer Dr. Greg Stern said the 67-year-old had multiple medical conditions that caused her death.
Stern said a rapid flu test confirmed she had influenza ‘A’ when she was admitted to St. Joseph Hospital last week.
He said the Centers for Disease Control will now have to confirm it was the swine flu.
"The CDC, in doing testing on specimens submitted to it that are influenza 'A' specimens, over 99 percent of them turn out to be the new H1N1," said Dr. Stern.
"So our assumption is that a positive rapid influenza 'A' test is the new H1N1 virus," he said.
While Dr. Stern notes the woman very likely had the swine flu, he said she died from other underlying health problems.
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