First recorded Covid death in U.S. was from massive heart attack, autopsy says
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By DEBRA KAHN
2 minutes
SAN FRANCISCO — A Santa Clara County woman who is the earliest
recorded death from Covid-19 in the United States died of a massive
heart attack, according to an autopsy conducted by the county's medical
examiner and obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The 57-year-old woman, who died Feb. 6, had evidence of the
coronavirus infection in her heart, trachea, lungs and intestines,
according to an autopsy report posted Saturday by the Chronicle that was completed Feb. 7, but not signed until April 23.
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County officials announced the death earlier this week,
making it the first known death in the country associated with the
virus and indicating Covid-19 was likely circulating earlier in the
country than previously thought. The death came three weeks before
Washington state reported its Feb. 28 death, which until this week was
considered the nation's first.
The woman had reported flu-like symptoms in the days leading up to
her death, the autopsy says. She was mildly obese and had a mildly
enlarged heart, according to the autopsy, but had no coronary heart
disease or clotting that would have caused a heart attack. The autopsy
found that blood had collected in the sac around her heart, leading to
pressure on the heart that caused it to rupture.
Santa Clara County health officials did not respond Saturday afternoon to a request for comment.
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