Whether a 16-year-old girl’s death Thursday was the result of swine flu remains unclear.

According to one news account, the girl lived in the Buckley area. She attended an alternative program in the White River School District, according to a district representative.

She died in a Pierce County hospital and the health department was notified, since hospitals are required to report any suspected H1N1 death.

Samples from throat swabs of the patient were sent to a state laboratory for testing and as of press time, the results were unavailable.

So far there are eight confirmed H1N1 deaths in Pierce County.

All eight patients had underlying conditions, making them more susceptible to the H1N1 virus.