Butler County man first to die in Ohio of swine flu

7/2/2009

COLUMBUS ― A Butler County man is the first Ohioan to die of the swine flu, the Ohio Department of Health confirmed Thursday.

The man's name was not released, but health officials said he was in his 40s and he had underlying health problems that may have contributed to his death. The man died on June 29 at Fort Hamilton Hospital in Hamilton, the health department said.

Our hearts go out to this man s family and loved ones, said ODH Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D. This is a sad, and not entirely unexpected, event as influenza and its complications cause some 3,000 deaths annually in Ohio, ranking it among the top 10 causes of death. We continue to urge Ohioans to take proper precautions and will monitor the situation closely.

There have been 332 swine flu deaths worldwide, including 127 in the United States, according to the World Health Organization. Eight cases of the swine flu, also known as H1N1 influenza, have been reported in northwest Ohio and 108 in Ohio.

Butler County is located in southwest Ohio, just north of Cincinnati.