Pentagon: Army Confirms First Suspected H1N1 (Swine Flu) Related Death

News in Balance:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2009 -- A soldier stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., who died Sept. 10, possibly is the first H1N1-related death suffered by the U.S. armed forces, Army officials here said.

Army Spc. Christopher Hogg, 23, of Dayton, Fla., died of pneumonia, but autopsy reports released yesterday confirm his death was the result of complications caused by the H1N1 virus, better known as swine flu, said Karen Soule, a Fort Jackson spokeswoman.

Fort Jackson doesn’t yet offer the H1N1 vaccine, but officials there expect the first supply to arrive this month, she added.

Fort Jackson is taking the issue seriously, Soule said. The base is the largest Army training facility with more than 10,000 soldiers stationed there at any given time. An H1N1 epidemic there could compromise the Army’s ability to effectively produce soldiers to support fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, she explained.

Hoggs was a basic training recruit in his fifth week of training when he was taken to the hospital Sept. 1 for a fever and respiratory issues. He was set to graduate Oct. 15.

(Report by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, Special to American Forces Press Service.)