Media releases compiled by Karin Stanton/Hawaii247.com Contributing Editor
The state Department of Health has confirmed the state’s third and the first neighbor island swine-flu related death.
The woman, who died July 7 at Kona Community Hospital, has been identified at Donna Altamirano, 51, of Kealakekua.
The Big Island resident is one of 263 swine flu-related deaths nationwide.
“Although flu was the primary cause of death for this individual, she had serious underlying medical conditions that exacerbated her condition and contributed to her decline and death,” said Dr. Sarah Park, chief of the Disease Outbreak Control Division and state epidemiologist. “We all need to take care of ourselves and be as healthy as we can be to maximize our ability to fight off infection.”
More than 1,000 reported cases of swine flu in the islands have been identified since May. Nationwide, there have been more than 40,000.