Three states report first swine flu deaths

BOSTON, June 16 (UPI) -- Massachusetts, Minnesota and Florida have reported their first H1N1 flu deaths in a pandemic that has killed at least 45 people nationwide, authorities said.

A 30-year-old Boston woman died Sunday of the H1N1 virus at Boston Medical Center after falling ill June 5, The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.

"We expect that there will be other people who will be seriously ill with H1N1, and, sadly, we do expect that other people will die," said John Auerbach, the Massachusetts public health commissioner.

The Northeastern United States has been hit hard by the virus, also know as swine flu, with 16 deaths reported in New York City alone last week.

In Minnesota, a 5-year-old Minneapolis girl with an impaired immune system died June 11 in that state's first confirmed H1N1 flu death, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Tuesday. The girl had been admitted to Children's Hospital of Minneapolis on June 10.

In Florida, a 9-year-old Miami-Dade County boy died from the virus, said Dr. Lillian Rivera, administrator of the county health department. Health officials did not say when or where the boy died, WFOR-TV, Miami, reported Tuesday.