In Mexico, the centre of the outbreak where 48 people with swine flu have died, most of the victims have been adults aged 20 to 49, and many had no reported complicating factors.
Elsewhere, five others have died while infected with the virus, including the two fatalities reported on Saturday, but each of them had additional health issues. People with chronic illnesses usually are at greatest risk for severe problems from flu, along with the elderly and young children.
In Washington, health officials said a man in his 30s had underlying heart conditions and viral pneumonia when he died on Thursday from what appeared to be complications from swine flu. The State Department of Health said in a release on Saturday that swine flu was considered a factor in his death.
“We’re working with local and federal partners to track this outbreak,” said Washington State Secretary of Health Mary Selecky. “We urge people to take this outbreak, and the seasonal flu we see every year, very seriously.”
