First Canadian H1N1 Swine Flu Death Reported

Canada, which has the 3rd largest case count of H1N1 Swine Flu, may have had its first fatality from the H1N1 Swine Flu. Reports emerging from the Canadian province of Alberta say an elderly woman, who may have been suffering from H1N1 Swine flu, died earlier today in northern Alberta.

7 May 2009, 24 countries have officially reported 2371 cases of influenza A (H1N1) infection.

Mexico has reported 1112 laboratory confirmed human cases of infection, including 42 deaths. The United States has reported 896 laboratory confirmed human cases, including two deaths.

As of 7 May 2009, 18:00 GMT

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths – Austria (1), Canada (201), China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (1), Colombia (1), Costa Rica (1), Denmark (1), El Salvador (2), France (5), Germany (10), Guatemala (1), Ireland (1), Israel (6), Italy (5), Netherlands (2), New Zealand (5), Poland (1), Portugal (1), Republic of Korea (3), Spain (81), Sweden (1), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (32).

The fatality would mark the 3rd in North America outside the Mexican hot zone.

Reports emerged Thursday night that an elderly woman who had swine flu has died in northern Alberta.

It’s not clear whether she had any other underlying conditions.

CBC News put the question to Alberta Health Minister Ron Liepert at 2:30 p.m. MT Thursday, and he stated then that he had no information about the case.

There are 214 confirmed cases of swine flu in Canada, including 33 in Alberta, the Public Health Agency of Canada says. Cases have been detected in every region except Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northern territories, with most cases found in B.C., Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta.

Almost all Canadian cases have been mild.

Worldwide, there are now 2,371 confirmed cases of swine flu in 24 countries, according to the World Health Organization. Forty-four people have died of the infection — 42 in Mexico and two in the United States.

On Thursday, Saskatchewan announced its first two cases of swine flu.