Lake County girl, 15, dies of H1N1 virus

A 15-year-old home-schooled teen is the county's fourth death from complications due to the H1N1 flu virus.

The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center said Wednesday the female had multiple underlying chronic conditions that increased her vulnerability to the virus.

She was hospitalized and died Tuesday, health officials said. Being home-schooled, she was not affiliated with any public or private school.

A health department spokeswoman refused to divulge where the teen lived because "the family of the deceased has specifically requested that we not release the name of the town." The Lake County Coroner's Office said the teen did not die in a Lake County hosptial.

Prior county deaths from H1N1 have included a 74-year-old male in Gurnee, a 41-year-old female in Gurnee and an 80-year-old female in Long Grove. Since April, the health department has reported 54 hospitalizations associated with H1N1.

"We sincerely extend our sympathies to this individual's family," said Irene Pierce, the Health Department's executive director. "Unfortunately, the H1N1 flu has a history of affecting children, especially those with underlying conditions, at a higher rate than the seasonal flu.

"While we are waiting for additional shipments of the H1N1 vaccine, we are reminding everyone to take steps to prevent the flu, such as covering your cough, washing your hands frequently and staying home if you are sick," she said. The county exhausted it's allocation of swine flu vaccine last week.

As of Oct. 30, the Illinois Department of Public Health reports 731 hospitalizations and 28 deaths related to H1N1 influenza in the state.

The health department's H1N1 hotline number is: (847) 377-8350.