The eighth fatal victim of the H1N1 flu in British Columbia was healthy, according to an update from the BC Centre for Disease Control Tuesday.
The agency also announced that a ninth person had died from the flu.
The latest data shows the 26-year-old Mission woman, whose death was originally announced last week, had no underlying and preexisting medical conditions. She is the first "healthy" person to die from H1N1 in the province.
The province's chief medical officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, said Friday the health authority expected some cases of H1N1 would occur in healthy people.
Officials have not released any information about the latest victim, other than to say the person had underlying medical conditions.
Thirty-three severe new cases of H1N1 have been recorded since Oct. 13, with 13 in Fraser Health, 12 in Vancouver Coastal Health, six in Interior Health and two on Vancouver Island.
Second wave
Last week, health officials said the province is in the midst of a "second wave" of the H1N1 pandemic.
"Compared to the rest of the country, we are seeing significantly higher numbers of influenza-like illness at this time," Dr. Perry Kendall said Friday.
"This is one of the more complex influenza seasons I can remember."
In total, the CDC has confirmed 111 cases of severe H1N1 in B.C. since April 2009.
Prevention
Kendall reiterated what medical experts have been saying for months about how best to prevent the spread of the virus:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Stay home when you're sick
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve
High-risk individuals, including pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions, should talk to their doctors about other preventative measures.
The B.C. government has set up a website with more information about H1N1, including ways to check for symptoms, at www.healthlinkbc.ca
With files from The Canadian Press
