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A Racine County resident has died from complications related to swine flu, City of Racine health officials said Wednesday.

The person died more than a week ago and had underlying health conditions that could have worsened the virus, City of Racine Health Department spokeswoman Sarah Clemons said.

It's the first reported death related to the H1N1 virus in the county, according to the health department.

Officials say they will not release the age, sex, race or location within the county that the person lived because of privacy and confidentiality laws.

State health officials say the death in Racine County happened since Nov. 11. Since that date, there have been 11 confirmed H1N1-related deaths reported in the state, including two deaths each in Dane County and Portage County and one death in Jefferson, Kenosha, Marathon, Oconto, Ozaukee, Racine and Waupaca counties. Thirty-one people have died from H1N1 or related complications since the spring.

Tawnya M. Plante of Schofield died of a heart attack after contracting swine flu

A 32-year-old Schofield woman has been identified by her mother as the second county resident to die of complications of H1N1 flu.

Tawnya M. Plante, a single mother of four and a caretaker for people with cognitive disabilities, died Nov. 8 at her home from a heart attack, said her mother, Bonnie Gebauer, 64, of Schofield.

Plante contracted swine flu a few weeks ago, Gebauer said, and then came down with pneumonia and bronchitis. Plante also suffered from asthma, Gebauer said.

The Marathon County Health Department announced on Wednesday the second county resident had died of H1N1-related illness, but would release no details about the death. The first local death attributed to swine flu occurred in June, when 12-year-old Emily Eaton of Rib Mountain died at Saint Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Marshfield. Eaton had suffered from immune-system deficiencies since birth.

Gebauer told the Wausau Daily Herald Thursday that her daughter was the person to whom the Health Department referred on Wednesday.

“She loved her four children,” Gebauer said. “That was her life.”

A 32-year-old Schofield woman has been identified by her mother as the second county resident to die....

The Marathon County Health Department... would release no details about the death.

The health department says swine flu peaked in late October, but another wave could still be coming.

The department adds that 4 more people died of H1N1 last week, bringing the number of deaths in Wisconsin to 35 since last Spring.

The latest fatal cases were in Washington, Outagamie, Dane and Menominee counties.

Seasonal flu isn't expected to hit until December or January.

Outagamie County reports first H1N1-related swine flu death
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Outagamie County Public Health reported its first H1N1 influenza-related death Wednesday in an adult who had underlying health conditions.
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Out of respect for the family and patient confidentiality laws, the county said it will not release the individual's sex, age, race or location of residence.
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APPLETON - Outagamie County officials are reporting a second death in the county related to the swine, or H1N1, flu.

The public health division said the person was an adult who had underlying health conditions. Officials did not release any more information about the person, citing respect for the family and patient confidentiality laws

According to its weekly report, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) says five people have died from H1N1 in the past week. Deaths were reported in Douglas, Oneida, Outagamie, and Walworth Counties.

To date, there have been 40 H1N1-related deaths in Wisconsin since the virus hit this spring. H1N1 activity is expected to continue through the season. Health officials expect another wave of cases could occur. Seasonal influenza cases are expected to come later in December or January.

DHS is still monitoring the vaccine supply and will continue expanding the vaccine groups as quickly as possible. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to stress that there will be enough H1N1 vaccine for everyone who wants it.

DHS recommends that Wisconsin's public and private health care providers continue vaccinating people