26-year-old woman is city's first swine-flu victim

Swine flu claimed the life of a 26-year-old woman on Sunday, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced yesterday. It is the city's first swine-flu fatality.

"When these cases are suspected and confirmed, the Division of Disease Control [does] a follow up with family and close contacts," said Department of Public Health spokesman Jeff Moran, who added that no information regarding the victim's address, neighborhood or work location has been released.

There have been 70 confirmed cases of swine flu in Philadelphia, Moran said.

All other residents with confirmed cases either have recovered fully or are at home recovering.

This is at least the 29th swine flu-related fatality in the country, according to the Department of Public Health.

According to the state Department of Health, 397 cases of the virus have been confirmed statewide in 2009.

The Philadelphia fatality is the second in the state. A 55-year-old Berks County woman died last month.

Symptoms of the virus include a fever higher than 100 degrees, body aches, coughing, sore throat and congestion, and in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

The Department of Public Health recommends avoiding sick people, staying home when ill, covering mouth and nose upon coughing or sneezing and washing hands often to help stop the spread of germs. *