Second H1N1 death reported in Mass.

BOSTON -- An 84-year-old man from Boston is the second death linked to H1NI influenza in Massachusetts, the Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Monday.

"It is with great sadness that we have learned today of the death of a Boston resident from illness associated with H1N1," said Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. "While most cases of H1N1 in Boston and nationwide have been less severe, this news demonstrates how serious influenza can be," she said.

The patient was hospitalized on June 12 and died six days later, on June 18. On Monday, his tests results came back positive for H1N1. The patient had several serious underlying health conditions that placed him at high risk of complications from the flu.

A Boston woman in her 30s died from the virus earlier this month.

As of Friday, June 26, there were 474 confirmed cases of H1N1 flu in Boston and 70 hospitalizations. 

In Massachusetts, there were 1287 confirmed cases and 134 hospitalizations as of Thursday, June 25. By contrast, seasonal influenza causes 250,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths each year nationwide.

"While we have seen recent evidence of flu-like illness decreasing in Massachusetts, this tragic case underscores that we are still seeing person-to-person spread of the virus," said DPH Commissioner John Auerbach. "That is why it is so important for everyone to practice the prevention measures that we know can reduce the spread of illness."

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