HARRISBURG — A person in Butler County has died of the swine flu. The state Department of Health on its Web site this morning reports a death in the county of the H1N1 flu. This is the first death of the swine flu in the county and only the second in Western Pennsylvania. Allegheny County reported a death earlier this week. Meanwhile, 15 cases of the swine flu have been confirmed in Butler County. Statewide, more than 2,400 cases have been confirmed. While the Department of Health does not identify the deceased, earlier reports said the flu was suspected in the death of 45-year-old Deborah Spangler of Renfrew. As of this morning, the Butler County coroner's office still has not listed a cause of death for her. Spangler, who died Sept. 10 in the emergency room of Butler Memorial Hospital, is survived by her husband, Lawrence, and two daughters.
