By Steve Bennish
Dayton Daily News
PREBLE COUNTY, Ohio — A Preble County sheriff’s captain has died, an apparent victim of the H1N1 flu virus and pneumonia, Sheriff Mike Simpson announced late Friday night, Nov. 6.
Sheriff’s Capt. Michael Thornsberry, 38, a 15-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, fell ill Oct. 20 with what was then believed to be pneumonia.
His condition worsened, and on Oct. 25, he was taken to Reid Hospital in Richmond, Ind., by ambulance.
Later than evening, he was taken by air ambulance to Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis.
In the weeks that followed, he was diagnosed with viral and bacterial pneumonia as well as H1N1.
He died in Indianapolis shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, Simpson said. Thornsberry had been in the intensive care unit 13 days, Simpson said.
Simpson said his office was told that physicians believe the pneumonia was a consequence of the virus.
“It’s my understanding the viral pneumonia was because of the H1N1 in his system,” Simpson said.
Thornsberry is survived by his wife, Michelle, and daughters Faith and Ally Grace.
“He was a very dedicated employee,” Simpson said. “I would describe him as a company guy who never went home until the job was done. He was a very good family man.”
Since Thornsberry’s promotion 18 months earlier, Simpson said, “he had done an excellent job for me since then. It’s a big loss.”
More information will be released in the coming days, the sheriff said. It’s expected that by Sunday funeral arrangements will be announced.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza activity in the U.S. remained high as reported in FluView during the week of Oct. 25-31. The Epidemiology and Prevention Branch in the Influenza Division at CDC collects and analyzes information on flu activity in the U.S. year-round to produce and publish FluView.
Flu activity continues to be widespread in 48 states, according to the CDC. Flurelated hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase and are very high nationwide compared to what is expected for this time of year, the CDC said.
Copyright 2009 Dayton Daily News