Miami grad reportedly dies of swine flu complications

A 22-year-old woman living in Oxford has died from complications of the H1N1 virus, according to family.

Kimberly "Kimi" Young, 22, died Tuesday night Sept. 22, 2009 at University Hospital.

Kimberly Young, 22, of Oxford, worked at the Kofenya coffee shop for 4 years. An employee there said the shop was planning to hold a special event in her honor.

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Staff and wire reports Updated 7:10 PM Thursday, September 24, 2009

A recent graduate of Miami University has reportedly died of swine flu complications. If confirmed, she would be the second Butler County resident to succumb to the illness.

Family of Kimberly Young, 22, of Oxford, told the media the woman became ill last week and was treated and released from a local hospital. She started feeling sick again Tuesday, Sept. 22, and was flown from Oxford to University Hospital in Cincinnati, where she died, according to Local 12.

Her grandmother said the family was told Young, who would have turned 23 this weekend, was infected with the H1N1 virus and died of complications, according to Local 12.

The Ohio Department of Health, the Hamilton County Health District and the Butler County Health Department were unable to confirm Young had been infected with the virus.

Young, known as “Kimi” to her friends and family, was a native of Toledo and graduated in December 2008 with a bachelor of arts in international studies and a bachelor of fine arts, according to Miami University’s commencement list.

She stayed in Oxford after graduation and had worked at the Kofenya coffee shop for four years in Oxford. An employee there declined to talk, but said the shop was planning to hold a special event in her honor.

Miami posted a message on its Intranet site Wednesday evening to inform students of Young’s death.

“The university expresses its sincere condolences to Kimberly’s family and friends and is offering support to students and staff impacted by this tragic loss,” the message reads.

If confirmed, Young would be the fourth Ohioan to die of the H1N1 virus.

In June, a 46-year-old Hamilton man succumbed to the illness. The others were an 18-year-old Cuyohoga County woman and a 20-year-old Columbus woman who had both given birth shortly before their deaths.

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