The Ministry of Health is reporting a second death linked to H1N1, commonly referred to as swine flu, this month.
The latest victim is a 49-year-old woman who died on February 23 at the University Hospital of the West Indies, acting chief medical officer Dr. Winston De La Haye disclosed yesterday.
He said the woman had “other complicating illnesses” and the positive swine flu test was only received by authorities yesterday.
The first person to die from swine-flu related issues since the virus was first detected in Jamaica in early February was a 50-year-old doctor, Suzanna Roye.
Dr. De La Haye said the number of confirmed swine flu cases in Jamaica has now reached 10.
Jamaican health authorities have upgraded swine flu to a category one illness, which means that within 24 hours of suspecting a case of severe acute respiratory illness, medical practitioners must report it to the health authority.
