Third Lake Co. resident dies of H1N1 complications

A third Lake County resident has died from H1N1 flu complications, officials said Friday.

The victim, an 80-year-old Long Grove woman whose name was not released, died Wednesday.

Two other Lake County residents, both from Gurnee, have died from the disease. A 41-year-old woman died Oct. 23, and a 74-year-old man died June 2.

Swine-flu fatalities have been reported recently in Cook and McHenry counties, too.

In all of the local cases, the victims suffered from other medical conditions that increased their vulnerability to the virus. That has been a common factor for H1N1 victims.

Such conditions can include breathing problems such as asthma, a weakened immune system and heart disease.

As of Friday, 731 hospitalizations and 28 deaths related to the H1N1 flu have been reported in Illinois, health officials said.

In Lake County, 48 hospitalizations have been reported, in addition to the three deaths.