A Hamilton woman infected with the H1N1 influenza has died, this city’s first fatality from the spreading pandemic virus.

The woman, 41, passed away in hospital on Monday, and had what medical officials call “underlying health conditions.”

It is not yet known whether the swine flu was a factor in the death, said Dr. Chris Mackie, Hamilton’s associate medical officer of health. Mackie said the only details he has at this time about the course of the flu virus in the woman who died is that “it progressed quickly, that’s about all the information that I have.”
   
He added that in cases such as this, where a patient already has an existing illness, “death is not unexpected.”  No details of the woman’s prior condition were released. Her name is also withheld.

Doctors in charge of the woman’s case will be the ones to determine whether an autopsy will be called, or whether a coroner should become involved. 
 
As of Monday, Hamilton had 46 cases of the H1N1 flu confirmed by lab testing and 44 others with symptoms assumed to be the same flu.  Dr. David-Butler Jones, Canada’s chief medical officer, said Monday that people with underlying health problems – such as diabetes or chronic heart or lung disease – should consider avoiding crowds during this outbreak.

There have been new pockets of severe cases of the flu in otherwise health individuals in the last few weeks, he said.

In Hamilton, Mackie said the woman’s death should be a “wakeup call” about the potential severity of  any flu. 

“If you don’t think influenza is a serious concern, you should be reminded that it can cause death,” Mackie said. “That’s why we have a massive influenza vaccination campaign every year.”

Between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians die of  seasonal influenza and its complications annually, depending on the severity of the virus circulating at the time. As of Friday, Canada had 7,775 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus – most of them mild – with 21 deaths.  An update on deaths and cases across Ontario are anticipated Friday.

Medical officials say strict handwashing and coughing or sneezing into your sleeve are the key preventative measures against contracting or spreading this flu.  Symptoms of the H1N1 virus include fever, cough, and, sometimes, vomiting and diarrhea.