H1N1 death reported in Potter County

Potter County has recorded one death as a result of H1N1 flu, according to the Pa. Dept. of Health.

As of Nov. 19, the state reported that 15 cases of the disease had been confirmed in Potter County. One death in the county was reported the previous week, on the department’s website, www.h1n1inpa.com.

In response to an inquiry by Endeavor News, a Dept. of Health spokesperson in Harrisburg said that the agency does not provide even unspecific information such as gender, age or presence of an underlying condition, because that data could make victims identifiable to the general public. In when the individual also has an underlying health condition.

The local fatality is the only one among counties with relatively small numbers of cases. Among other counties with low rates of the disease so far, Huntington County, with 21 cases, has one death; Pike, 24 cases and one death; and Jefferson, with 32, also recorded one death as of Nov. 19.

Cameron County has reported only two cases with no fatalities, while Elk has had 16 confirmed cases and one probable case, with no fatalities reported.