Staff Reports
Niagara County health officials are investigating another suspected death related to the H1N1 flu virus.
Public Health Director Dan Stapleton confirmed Tuesday that his office is taking a closer look at a case involving an individual who may have died from complications related to the virus commonly called the swine flu.
Stapleton said the case involved the death of a local teen, but could not disclose any more information on Tuesday. He added the health department does expect to release additional information about the case today.
“All I can confirm is that there has been a death of a teenager from Niagara County,” Stapleton said.
Niagara-Wheatfield School District officials confirmed the death of a 10th-grader at the high school but said they have received no confirmation the death was H1N1-related.
“It is a tragic loss to the Niagara-Wheatfield family,” Superintendent Carl Militello said Tuesday night.
The health department confirmed the first H1N1 related death in the county last week. Officials said the virus contributed to the death of an eastern Niagara County resident who had underlying health problems.
