NYPD Suffers First Swine Flu Fatality

The NYPD has lost its first officer to swine flu after a Brooklyn cop died following a seven-week fight with the virus. 27-year-old Officer Ryan Johnson of Brookhaven on Long Island died yesterday after weeks in a coma following his diagnosis on June 17th. He was a five-year veteran of the force out of the 83rd precinct in Bushwick. There is some debate as to whether a preexisting condition exacerbated the H1N1 virus—health officials said that Johnson had long suffered from asthma, but his mother denied that. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said that Johnson "fought valiantly over many weeks, often expressing his desire to return to the job." As of the Health Department's most recent report a month ago, the swine flu death toll in New York City was at 47.

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By Billy Parker in News on August 8, 2009 1:50 PM

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Rocknrope

It's going to be an ugly winter.

Jon Claw

You mean fall. If this is anything like the Spanish Flu of 1918, it'll peak in late October into early November.

NannyState

And it will be a while before vaccines are fully available. Cops or anyone in frequent contact with the public should use every precaution...including that doofy mask pictured above.

Spirit of 76

Not a good idea. First, it's overkill. I've seen recommendations for N95 respirators, but they're not cheap and neither are the replacement filter cartridges, and NYPD is already strapped for cash. They're not easy to breathe through, either. I still have my old respirator and it took effort to breathe in it. Second, seeing cops walking around with masks doesn't do much to reassure the public. It's even a little scary. Masks hide identity too easily. Maybe if somebody came up with a clear plastic mask with a small, replaceable, multilayer Filtrete panel in front of the mouth and chin. That way, you could still see the officer's face and the panel should take only pennies to replace, rather than dollars. Also maybe buy a bunch of those pocket-size hand sanitizer sprays, with large barrels of sanitizer in each precinct to economically refill them from.

dr zippy

I think the flu is mostly spread by touch not breathing. It doesn't make sense to buy an expensive mask if it only marginally reduces your risk of catching the virus. It is far more effective, and cheaper, to wash your hands frequently if you really want to lower your risk of catching H1N1.

Spirit of 76

Quoting the CDC: "In addition, individuals may consider wearing a facemask or respirator to help prevent exposure to respiratory secretions from symptomatic individuals." One immediate benefit is that a mask will keep you from touching your mouth or nose after touching infected surfaces, which is where the danger from hand contact comes from.

Washing hands often is not an option for cops in cruisers or on the beat. Hence the sanitizer idea.

Stewart

Wow, only 27 years old. How sad. My condolences to his family.

just saying

It is very frightening that the H1N1 virus is killing young, apparently healthy people unlike the regular flu virus which usually kills the very old and infirm.

In that way it is very reminiscent of the pandemic flu of 1918 which was responsible for the deaths of millions of people.

Guest

haha the irony

Spirit of 76

Are you just a troll or really an asshole? I have no great love for NYPD, but anyone who celebrates someone's death needs professional help. I get the feeling you wouldn't really have the cojones to laugh in his mother's face.

Guest

not celebrating anything you fool just making a social observation...

Spirit of 76

Sure you are. A man is dead, laughing boy. You'd better hope there's no such thing as karma.

Rfive

you speak of karma? dude looks like an ex-cop from his facebook page. "trying to break into the music business". karma will be a bitch for him.

just saying

He's both. Look at his user profile. Demetri Manolatos of Queens lists his job as "none." His IM is DManolatos. What kind of moron puts his IM on his user profile?