N.Y. College Student Dies of H1N1

(CBS/AP)  A Cornell University student, among 520 diagnosed with influenza-type illness in the past three weeks, died Friday of complications related to swine flu, university officials said.

President David Skorton released a statement Friday evening saying Warren J. Schor, a 20-year-old economics and management major from Clinton Corners, N.Y., died at a hospital.

CBS Station WCBS reports Schor was a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He lived on campus with his classmates at the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity house.

WCBS reports that, according to the Medical Center, the Cornell sophomore suffered from an underlying medical condition, but due to a request from the family, did not say what the condition was.

Schor died nine days after he went to the hospital.

CBSNews.com Special Report: The H1N1 Threat

Cornell spokesman Thomas Bruce said the university has been working closely with state and federal health agencies and has been aggressive in reaching out to students and informing them of precautions they should follow to limit the flu's spread.

The university's health service has extended its hours for seeing students and has been taking calls from them around the clock, he said.

In a message to students on the university's Web site, campus health officials said most students who have gone to the campus infirmary with flu symptoms have had mild illness and recovered fully. They advised students with flu symptoms to stay in their rooms and at least 6 feet away from roommates until they've been fever-free for 24 hours.

The university has nearly 20,000 students.

Government health officials said Friday that influenza is circulating unusually early this year with cases in all 50 states - nearly all the swine flu variety.

A new poll from Consumer Reports' National Research Center finds more Americans are concerned about a potential outbreak of the H1N1 virus (67%) than about a terrorist attack in the United States (62%).

Dr. Anne Schuchat, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a briefing in Washington, D.C., that cases are mainly occurring in children and young adults. She said H1N1 swine flu broke out in the spring and never went away.

Supplies of swine flu vaccine are expected to be available in mid-October, and testing shows it works with a single dose and takes effect rapidly.

In the United States, it is estimated 36,000 people die every year from ordinary seasonal flu, most often the elderly and the very young. Roughly 200,000 are hospitalized because of flu complications.

Appearing on CBS' "Early Show," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said parents need not be overly worried about their children away at schools, where the spread of influenza has been dramatic.

"This particular flu, this pandemic flu virus that has been circulating in the spring and is now back in the schools. is a virus that's generally a mild disease, but it preferentially infects young individuals. And then, every once in a while, rarely, but it tragically happens, you get someone who gets seriously ill and who dies like that student.

"That's the reason why the whole idea of getting the vaccine to people who need it, particularly young people and people and others at high risk like pregnant women is very, very important."

"Are you more concerned now than you were a month ago?" asked "Early Show" anchor Chris Wragge.

"No, I'm less concerned, because we have a vaccine that works with one dose, which is very good."

[erasmus111]

by Ceres6 September 14, 2009 8:34 PM EDT
If Warren was living in a well to do fraternity inside Cornell University, how come there were no people that helped him to get medical help sooner.


From what I have heard, if you have a pre-existing condition, getting help sooner probably won't help. The virus goes directly into the lungs. The lungs either fill up with fluid or they become stiff and deflate.

[Ceres6]

I feel extremely sorry for the parents of Warren J. Schor. This is the worst thing that can happen in their lives, and for sure, part of them died with their son. Nevertheless, there is something I cannot understand. If Warren was living in a well to do fraternity inside Cornell University, how come there were no people that helped him to get medical help sooner. It is terrible to know that for days Warren remained sick alone in his bedroom. My son, who also studies at Cornell University, knew him, and he told me that Warren was well known in the university because he was a nice guy who took a great care of his dog, a golden retriever.
This is a wake up call for parents with children in colleges and universities. They have to tell their children that at the first sign of any suspicious flu, to go quickly to the hospital, and not to wait for a friend to give them a hand, because many times no friends will be there. To all the students that belong to fraternities, it is important for them to remember that the word fraternity is a joke, it does not mean anything in an emergency. It is a liability.

[erasmus111]

by bobnjersey September 14, 2009 4:42 PM EDT
[We KNOW that people die from this, but what we need to know is if they had some pre-existing condition. When people start dying and don't have any pre-existing conditions, WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS. ]

[from the story above]
WCBS reports that, according to the Medical Center, the Cornell sophomore suffered from an underlying medical condition, but due to a request from the family, did not say what the condition was.

his medical history and current condition at the time of his death are really none of anybody's business.



That's right. It is nobody's business. That family doesn't have to tell the media NOTHING.

As long as the CDC keeps everyone informed and up to date with any new findings, that's all that matters. The CDC doesn't have to give any personal information about any family, just keep the public informed about what to watch for and which people could be affected more by this flu.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

Forget the privacy BS the public needs to know what these underlying health conditions are!!!!!

I do not need to know the persons name or address, I do need to know what underlying health condition contributed to the death of the FLU!!!!


THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THESE CONDITIONS ARE!!!! WE DO NOT NEED ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT!!!!

[erasmus111]

"THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT THESE CONDITIONS ARE!!!! WE DO NOT NEED ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT!!!!"


But they do not need to know anything about the family. The family does not need to disclose anything to the media. The CDC just needs to keep everyone informed of any new changes.

If the family comes out with the information, then everyone knows who they are and everything about them. As long as the CDC keeps everyone informed of any new updates, there is no problem. New updates meaning a list of any new "health conditions" that could make things worse.

[fariborzzak]

HEALTH CARE PLAN needed.

[Htos1]

It's the Mexican flu.Like the Asian flu,like the Spanish flu.I realize that demo is needed to keeps dems in power for the next 30 years though.

[greenlives22]

I know because I know him and the family. He has no other health concerns. The autopsy report is back and has also confirmed that.

[rsmik]

The family should speak out and set the record straight, although the public would be in a frenzy if seemingly healthy people can suddenly die from H1N1. Is it a possibility that he was pushing himself to work hard and was in a weakened condition? I had a friend who was a med student and died of pneumonia because he worked long hours and ignored his own health till it was too late.

[Stevenapoli7]

SWINE FLU

[greenlives22]

Okay here is the real info. He did not participate in any trial's of h1n1. He did NOT have any underlying medical conditions. He didn't do drugs or go on a drinking binge. He was a very smart regular college kid who partied some but was was very responsible and HEALTHY. Those reports are wrong.I agree it would be easier to deal with this if he did have another medical condition but he did not. This does make it so much scarier. College kids I believe are at the highest risk right now.

[rsmik]

How do you know he didn't have an underlying medical condition?

[bubbadubba]

"but due to a request from the family, did not say what the condition was."

Well then we must guess what the underlying condition was that really killed the young man. There is only one "health condition" that makes people vulnerable to all kinds of infections that people try to hide, and we know what it is.