City health officials confirmed the 16th death of a person with the H1N1 flu virus Friday.

Department of Health officials said the patient was aged between 40 to 49 but would not release any more information.

Of the 16 deaths associated with the H1N1 flu, 12 of the victims had medical conditions that increase risks of flu complications. The other four victims were obese, which could have made them in risk of flu complications.

DOH officials also say the amount of flu-like symptoms among emergency room patients has declined rapidly since reaching a peak on May 25. Hospital admissions for H1N1 flu, otherwise known as swine flu, reached a peak on May 27.

Of the 567 people hospitalized in the city with H1N1 flu, 46 percent have been under 18 and one-fifth have been under five years old. About 80 percent of those hospitalized had known risk factors for severe flu complications.

Meanwhile, an exclusive NY1, New York Times, Cornell University poll finds that the majority of New Yorkers are worried about contracting the H1N1 flu.

In a telephone poll, more than six in 10 say they're concerned they or someone in their household will come down with the flu strain.

But residents are giving the city high marks for its handling of the outbreak; 70 percent of the respondents say the city did a good job dealing with the outbreak.

About a quarter of those polled say they were not satisfied with the way the city responded to the flu.

More than two-thirds say the city has done a good job providing details on the flu.

A Brooklyn school mourned the loss of one of its students who had the flu Friday.

Students and parents at the Urban Assembly School of Criminal Justice in Borough Park identified the sixth-grade victim as 11-year-old Sarah Michelle.

The building that houses the school, seen above, is shared by I.S. 223.

According to her fellow students and other reports, Michelle had a heart defect.

Grief counselors were been brought in to help students cope with the loss of their friend.

"It was very hard because she was a good friend and really knew how to calm people down," said Deanna Porter, Michelle's friend.

"She was my daughter's classmate.... [My daughter's] depressed," said parent Valeria Csullog.

Despite parents who say they are concerned, officials from the Department of Education said Friday that the schools' attendance rates were high and the schools would not be shut down.

Schools affected by the outbreak have been scrubbed down and sanitized, but many of the city workers who have been sanitizing may lose their jobs because of looming budget cuts.

School cleaners joined local officials on the steps of City Hall Friday to protest the Department of Education's proposed cuts, which some estimate may reach $7 million.

Some lawmakers said cuts could lead to unsanitary conditions in schools, endangering students.

"These are the guys that make it safe for your children to walk into the classroom," said Queens Councilwoman Melinda Katz.

"School cleaners are the frontlines of defense against dirt and vermin, against dust and germs, keeping our kids safe so that they can learn well, and so that our city can have a future," said Queens Councilman John Liu.

NY1 reached out to the Department of Education and was awaiting a response late Friday.