Judy Trunnell, a 33-year-old Texas schoolteacher was the first American with swine flu to die. During the two weeks Trunnell was in the hospital she slipped into a coma and had her baby girl delivered by Cesarean section before she died on May 5, 2009.Wish TV: Texas Woman with Flu Dies (May 6, 2009)
On May 18, 2009, Trunnell's husband, Steven Trunnell, said the reports that she had a "pre-existing" condition were entirely untrue and said he had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Smithfield Foods. Mr. Trunnell, along with his four-year-old daughter and newborn baby, was a guest via satellite on Larry King Live.
No Underlying Health Condition
Health officials said that Trunnell had "chronic underlying heath conditions" when they confirmed the mother's death from the swine flu. Trunnell's husband said the reports were not true and that the only thing Trunnell ever suffered was psoriasis, a skin condition. He said the misleading reports were devastating.Statesman.com: Widower seeks to sue operator of pig farm (May 13, 2009)
Diagnosis
Dr. Joseph McCormick, regional dean of the University of Texas School of Public Health's Brownsville campus, said Trunnell was extremely ill when she was hospitalized. There was a Type A influenza epidemic in the Texas area and swine flu is one variety of that, so doctors were not able to confirm Trunnell had swine flu until shortly before she died.Daily Herald: Relatives Grieve for Texas Woman (May 6, 2009)
Judy Trunnell News
ABC15 (Arizona): Arizona Swine Flu Cases Now at 49 (May 5, 2009)
Wish TV: Texas Woman with Flu Dies (May 6, 2009)
References
Fast Facts
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Was 33 years old at the time of her death on May 5, 2009Wish TV: Texas Woman with Flu Dies (May 6, 2009)
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Residence
Harlingen, Texas, a city of about 63,000 located near the U.S.-Mexico borderDaily Herald: Relatives Grieve for Texas Woman (May 6, 2009)
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The first American to die from swine flu in 2009Wish TV: Texas Woman with Flu Dies (May 6, 2009)
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April 14, 2009
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Originally complained of difficulty breathing and eventually put on life supportDaily Herald: Relatives Grieve for Texas Woman (May 6, 2009)
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April 19, 2009
Hospitalized for flu, although the doctors did not know which type of flu she hadDaily Herald: Relatives Grieve for Texas Woman (May 6, 2009)
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Delivered a healthy baby girl via Cesarean section while she was hospitalizedABC News: First U.S. Swine Flu Death (May 6, 2009)
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Was a teacher in the Mercedes Independent School District in TexasABC News: First U.S. Swine Flu Death (May 6, 2009)
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Schools in Trunnell's district officials are closed until May 11, 2009ABC News: First U.S. Swine Flu Death (May 6, 2009)
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Due to her long hospitalization, there was little concern that she might have passed the virus to students but the district schools were closed as a preventative measureABC News: First U.S. Swine Flu Death (May 6, 2009)
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Husband filed a lawsuit against Smithfield Foods for having "horrifically unsanitary conditions" at their pig farm in MexicoStatesman.com: Widower seeks to sue operator of pig farm (May 13, 2009)
