Man's Death Is Second Tied to Swine Flu in Va.

An Arlington County area man whose health was already compromised has died after coming down with swine flu, becoming Virginia's second fatality related to the virus, state health officials said.

Virginia health officials declined to release details about the man, citing federal laws. But Health Commissioner Karen Remley said in a news release that although the cause of death has not been confirmed, the H1N1 virus appears to have been a factor. She declined to describe his underlying medical condition but said it increased his risk of complications from the flu.

The man had visited his doctor within the past week and was suspected at that time of having caught the virus, said Maribeth Brewster, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Health.

"He was a confirmed case. Things progressed quickly, and he was hospitalized," Brewster said.

The case raises the number of swine flu-related deaths nationwide to 128, including one in Maryland, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site. But the vast majority of cases are much less grave than initially feared. Virginia has 191 confirmed or probable cases of the virus. Maryland has 414, and the District has 33.

Brewster said officials will not try to trace where the man contracted the H1N1 virus, but they are looking for clusters of confirmed cases to track the virus's spread. Officials urged people to minimize their chances of contracting it by washing their hands thoroughly and frequently.

If people experience flu symptoms at this point in summer, it's likely that they have contracted the H1N1 virus, Brewster said.

"We know it's here, and it's widespread," she said. "If you experience flu-like symptoms currently, you do need to think about your co-workers or your neighbors, and you should stay home."