Tests show 13-year-old died from swine flu
Laboratory testing confirmed yesterday that a 13-year-old Worcester male with persistent health problems died from swine flu, the first Massachusetts youth to succumb to the novel virus that has killed more than 200 people in the United States, public health authorities reported last night.
Authorities also said preliminary testing strongly suggests the death of a 64-year-old Worcester man was caused by the virus known by the scientific name H1N1. With the two deaths in Worcester - which are unrelated - Massachusetts has recorded six swine flu deaths since the virus was first detected in the state in late April. The four other deaths were in Boston.
The teen, who died last week at UMass Memorial Medical Center, had underlying medical conditions that made him more susceptible to complications from the viral illness, said John Auerbach, the state’s public health commissioner. Because of patient confidentiality laws, the Department of Public Health declined to identify the teen or to delineate his medical problems.
Disease trackers have reported that children with asthma, diabetes, or neurological conditions such as muscular dystrophy are at greatest peril from complications of the viral illness. Nationwide, 22 children had died from swine flu as of July 4.
“Unfortunately, for some children, and particularly those children who do have certain kinds of underlying health issues, it can be quite risky,’’ Auerbach said.
As a result, health authorities urged parents of such youngsters to be especially vigilant.
“If a child with any of the identified underlying conditions develops a fever or what appears to be flu-like illness, I would encourage the parent of that child to call their doctor and to confer with their doctor at an early stage,’’ the commissioner said.
By doing that, Auerbach said, the parent and physician can determine whether a trip to the pediatrician is necessary.
Children 18 and younger have accounted for nearly two of every three confirmed cases of swine flu in Massachusetts. But in most instances, the H1N1 virus - reflecting the behavior of seasonal influenza strains - has not presented a mortal threat to children.
Instead, Auerbach said, youngsters infected with the virus typically experience two or three days of relatively mild symptoms, including fever, cough, and chills.
No one else in the family of the 13-year-old is ill, state disease investigators said, and there is no evidence he infected other children.
The youth was first hospitalized in Springfield. “We are in the belief that he spent a lot of time outside of Worcester, for reasons that I don’t have information on,’’ said Derek S. Brindisi, director of the Worcester Division of Public Health.
The state lab is still conducting tests to confirm the 64-year-old man died from swine flu, but preliminary hospital testing indicated the virus was the most probable cause.
The cases of the teenager and the older man were similar, Brindisi said, “in that they both had very severe underlying medical conditions.’’
Statewide, a network of doctors that acts like a disease-tracking bellwether has reported that the number of patients coming in with flu-like symptoms decreased the past few weeks. Emergency rooms are experiencing a similar reduction. But public health authorities cautioned that swine flu continues to circulate and that surveillance networks don’t provide a perfect snapshot of how a virus is spreading.
“We’ve gone through our peak period at this point in Worcester, and things are relatively on the downturn,’’ Brindisi said. “But I would certainly want to caution the public that this virus is within our environment, and we still want to heed precautions.’’
Stephen Smith can be reached at stsmith@globe.com. 
