By Carrie Antlfinger
The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE — Health officials in Wisconsin, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Utah reported deaths from swine flu on Thursday, and said all five patients had been diagnosed with other health problems.
The Wisconsin death, of a Milwaukee adult, was the state’s first from the H1N1 virus.
City Health Commissioner Bevan Baker would not release any details except to say that the person had a common underlying health condition that he would not specify.
Pennsylvania also reported its first death from the illness.
The 55-year-old Berks County woman who died with the flu had significant underlying health issues, a health department spokeswoman said.
A 74-year-old man from Gurnee, Ill., died Tuesday, according to the Lake County Health Department. Officials said he had significant medical conditions that increased his vulnerability.
Officials in California said a 9-year-old Concord girl had been diagnosed with swine flu and had a bacterial infection before she died May 29.
The patient who died in Utah also was under 18, according to Gary Edwards, executive director of the Salt Lake Valley Health Department.