A fifth San Diego County resident has died after contracting the swine flu, health officials said Thursday.

All the victims had underlying medical conditions that may have made them susceptible to complications from the virus, officials said.

The latest victim, a 36-year-old man, died July 4, Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said. No additional details about the man or his death were immediately available.

Wooten said the virus is widespread in the community and that it should not be considered uncommon for people to experience symptoms.

The public is encouraged to stay home from work or school if they have influenza-like illness or symptoms similar to the seasonal flu, which include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

"If an individual with underlying medical conditions is experiencing influenza-like illness or symptoms, they should contact their primary care physician in a timely manner," Wooten said.

The World Health Organization designated the swine flu a Phase 6 worldwide pandemic on June 11. The top alert level means the disease has reached communities all over the word, but does not reflect its severity.

For information on H1N1 influenza, visit www.sdcounty.ca.gov or www.cdc.gov, or call 2-1-1 San Diego.