State health officials have confirmed that two members of a northern Minnesota family had influenza when they died suddenly last week and that an underlying staph infection contributed to at least one of the deaths.
The Rev. Danny Adams, 64, of Dora Lake, Minn. died on March 19, just three days after the death of his son, Danny (Barney) Adams Jr., 39. On Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Health said lab tests had confirmed that both victims had influenza Type B.
"We have also determined that a staphylococcus aureus also played a role in one of the deaths," said Buddy Ferguson, a Health Department spokesman. Staph was found in the second patient, but without an autopsy health officials were unable to say what role it might have played in the death. When combined with influenza, staph infections can cause death by releasing toxins into the body.
But the Health Department was "not able to conclude" whether staph was involved in the other death, Ferguson said. Because of confidentiality laws, the department does not identify the victims by name. The Adamses were identified by friends and relatives.
MAURA LERNER
