Chicago reports nation's 12th swine flu death

Chicago reports nation's 12th swine flu death

Feds urge extra caution for those with high-risk medical conditions

Caryn Rousseau / Associated Press

A Chicago resident has died of swine flu, the first death in Illinois and the 12th nationally from the illness, health authorities said Monday.

Authorities in Mexico, where the swine flu outbreak was identified in April, announced three more deaths, raising its total to 83, and Canada reported its second death.

"With as many cases of H1N1 influenza that have been reported in Illinois, we have been concerned that there would be fatalities," said Dr. Damon Arnold, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state lists 896 confirmed cases.

Before the latest reports, the World Health Organization tallied at least 91 deaths around the globe from more than 12,500 swine flu cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention counted 10 deaths and 6,700 cases in the United States, most of them mild. But New York health officials reported another death over the weekend.

At least 46 countries have confirmed cases, according to WHO. Puerto Rico reported its first case Monday, making it the second Caribbean island to confirm the illness. The man is recuperating at home.

Arnold said in a statement the victim in Chicago had other medical conditions, but authorities released no other information about the person.

Arnold said that although public attention to the outbreak has waned, people with high-risk medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung disease and pregnancy should remain particularly cautious.

In Canada, officials said Monday that a Toronto man who had swine flu but also suffered from a chronic medical condition died Saturday. Dr. David Williams, Ontario's acting chief medical officer, said in a statement the coroner was investigating to determine what role swine flu played in the fatality.