Two women died of A/H1N1 flu virus over the last week in Alaska, bringing to five the number of A/H1N1-related deaths in the U.S. state, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Both women came from the state's Fairbanks region and died on September 24, Alaska's Anchorage Daily News said in a report, Xinhua reported.
According to Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the two women both had pre-existing medical conditions and were hospitalized prior to their deaths.
While announcing the two new death cases, health officials said the state will no longer issue a notice each time a resident dies of A/H1N1 flu.
"It was important for us to inform the Alaska public and health care providers of the initial deaths in order to demonstrate that, like seasonal influenza, this 2009 H1N1 influenza can be lethal," Joe McLaughlin, Alaska state epidemiologist, was quoted as saying.
"This message is now clear to Alaskans and it is no longer necessary for us to notify the public of each death," he noted.
A/H1N1 flu death toll rises to five in U.S. state of Alaska
Two women died of A/H1N1 flu virus over the last week in Alaska, bringing to five the number of A/H1N1-related deaths in the U.S. state, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday.
