The two recent deaths related to H1N1, or swine flu, were men with underlying medical conditions that contributed to their deaths, the state Department of Health said.

The men, one in his 20s and the other in his 30s, died early last week, DOH spokeswoman Janice Okubo said. The younger man died July 21 at his home and the older man died on July 22 at a hospital.
Their deaths, both on Oahu, were the fifth and sixth in Hawaii since swine flu broke out in April. All six have involved people with other health problems.
“Influenza can be a serious and fatal illness for those with chronic conditions and weakened immune systems,” said DOH director Dr. Chiyome Fukino, in a prepared statement.
The DOH is not releasing the ethnicity of those who have died from the flu, Okubo said, because there are so few cases. Nationwide there have been 302 deaths where H1N1 was identified as a contributing factor for patients who had conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, obesity and were smokers.
Health officials strongly recommend that people with flu symptoms stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the disease, whether it’s seasonal or swine flu.