The state Department of Health has confirmed the state’s third swine-flu related death.
The woman, in her early 50s, died July 7 at Kona Community Hospital.

The Big Island resident is one of 263 swine flu-related deaths nationwide.
“Although flu was the primary cause of death for this individual, she had serious underlying medical conditions that exacerbated her condition and contributed to her decline and death,” said Dr. Sarah Park, chief of the Disease Outbreak Control Division and state epidemiologist, in a news release. “We all need to take care of ourselves and be as healthy as we can be to maximize our ability to fight off infection.”
There have more than 1,000 reported cases of swine flu in the Islands since May.
Nationwide, there have been more than 40,000.