St. Rose Dominican Hospitals confirms treating swine flu patient

A spokeswoman for St. Rose Dominican Hospitals confirmed today that a patient at the San Martin campus is being treated for swine flu.

Because of federal privacy laws, spokeswoman Sasha Jackowich said she could not go into detail about the case. But Brian Labus, a senior epidemiologist with the Southern Nevada Health District, said the 39-year-old woman was admitted about a week and half ago in critical condition.

“She’s improving now,” he said.

Labus said authorities have no idea how the woman contracted the disease. He also said that because of her illness it has been difficult to learn whether she had any underlying health problems.

“We haven’t been able to interview her,” he said.

He did say that because of the woman’s relatively youthful age she “is not someone you would expect to become so ill from influenza.”