California health officials Monday confirmed two swine flu-related deaths in the state.
State health department spokesman Ken August said Monday that the victims were a middle-aged man from San Bernardino County and a middle-aged woman from Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Jonathan Fielding said the woman died in late May.
The man died before that, making him the first confirmed swine flu-related death in the state.
California has recorded 576 confirmed swine flu cases as of May 28.
The woman had underlying health problems, according to Fielding. Her name was not released.
"Every death is regrettable, but given the number of H1N1 cases in Los Angeles, identifying the new H1N1 strain in someone who passed away with severe respiratory disease is not unexpected," said Fielding.
As of May 29, there were 102 confirmed cases of the new flu in Los Angeles County, said Sarah Kissell with the county public health department. Fielding said that most of the cases of the new flu in the United States have been mild to moderate, with symptoms similar to seasonal influenza.
