Announcement

**Chuck** · September 11, 2009, 05:30 PM

Re: 14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms

http://www.newssun.com/0916-tc-h1n1-swine-highlands

Sebring teen dies from flu-like illness

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

SEBRING -- A 14-year-old Sebring High School freshman has died from a flu-like illness.

"(He) died this morning but there is no conformation if it was due to H1N1 swine flu," Thomas Moran, planning consultant for the Highlands County Health Department said Friday. "From what we understand he did have a fever and flu-like symptoms."

According to a press release from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, several public safety agencies responded to the Publix shopping center parking lot at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning.

"We learned that a parent was transporting his son to the hospital with severe stomach cramps and flu-like (symptoms,)" Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said in the press release. "While en route to Florida Hospital the parent observed that the child was not breathing and pulled into the parking lot and dialed 911 while attempting to give CPR."

Emergency Medical Services personnel attempted to resuscitate the child while on the way to Highlands Regional Medical Center. They performed CPR for nearly an hour before he was pronounced dead at 5:36 a.m. at the hospital.

Tests are being conducted at Tampa General Hospital to determine if the boy had H1N1 swine flu.

Rodney Hollinger, deputy superintendent for the Highlands County School District, said he would not release the boys name out of "decency" and "concern for the family."

Hollinger said the boy had been out of school for a few days but he was not sure how many.

Parents of Sebring High School students were sent home a press release from the Health Department that went over strategies to keep the spread of the disease to a minimum.

They wanted to "remind everyone to wash their hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mounts with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing," the press release stated.

It said those precautions will greatly reduce the risk of transmission of all flu viruses, whether seasonal or H1N1.

The health department said the boy had no reported pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses other than flu-like symptoms and a high fever the past few days, but would not speculate on the cause of death at this point.

"We will confirm with lab tests and at that point we can create a plan of what we are going to do next," Moran said.

Since May of this year there have been 37 confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu in Highlands County, with the majority of the cases concentrated in children.

**Chuck** · September 11, 2009, 05:33 PM

Re: 14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2009/sep/11/111724/death-investigation-continues-following-emergency-/

Sebring student with flu-like symptoms dies

NO CONFIRMATION IT WAS SWINE FLU, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY

Courtesy photo

Sebring High school student Marquis Hamilton died following flu-like symptoms.

By BRAD DICKERSON

Highlands Today

Published: September 11, 2009

Updated: 16 min. ago

SEBRING - Sebring High School students and staff were in shock Friday after learning that a 14-year-old school student with flu-like symptoms and a high fever died suddenly early Friday morning.

Highlands County Health Department officials said they could not confirm late Friday afternoon if H1N1 swine flu was the cause of Marquis Hamilton's death. He had no reported pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses, a health department press release added.

Thomas Moran, the health department's planning consultant, said laboratory results, expected late Friday from Tampa, will tell if swine flu is to blame.

Officials from the health department or the Highlands County School District did not confirm the teen's name because of confidentiality reasons.

Highlands Today learned from numerous sources that the victim was a freshman at Sebring High School.

The teen's parent was reportedly taking him to Florida Hospital Heartland after he complained of severe stomach cramps and flu-like symptoms, said a press release from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

The parent pulled into the Publix Supermarket parking lot on U.S. 27 and called 911 after realizing the boy was not breathing.

Emergency medical services workers responded at approximately 4:30 a.m. Friday morning and tried to resuscitate the boy while on their way to Highlands Regional Medical Center.

The boy was pronounced dead at 5:36 a.m. at the hospital, the press release added.

Sheriff's office detectives are conducting a death investigation. There is no indication of foul play and no known prior medical condition other than flu-like symptoms, the press release said.

An autopsy will be performed and other tests are being coordinated with the health department through Tampa General Hospital, the press release added.

Sebring High School freshman Garrett Martinez was in shock Friday afternoon over Hamilton's death.

He said he heard what he thought were rumors from friends during the first period and only realized they were true when he saw students crying while walking to his lab class.

He has known the teen since sixth grade in Sebring Middle School.

"We talked about sports and stuff and became friends," Martinez remembered.

He described Hamilton as a "funny guy."

"He always put a smile on your face," Martinez said, after tearing up a little bit. "We were all in shock; he was a good kid."

Robert Palussek, director of the Highlands County Health Department, expressed his "deepest sympathies" to family and friends.

Since the only prior symptoms were high fever and flu, the health department is monitoring the situation, the press release said.

Since May of this year, 37 residents have been confirmed with H1N1 in Highlands County.

"This appears to be mirroring the state and national trends where the majority of cases are concentrated in children," the press release added.

The health department reminds everyone to wash their hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mouths with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing.

While most cases of swine flu are mild, there are exceptions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised people with chronic pre-existing conditions and pregnant women to be especially vigilant to prevent against infection.

If someone experiences flu-like symptoms they should contact their health care providers or hospital for instructions about receiving treatment.

People experiencing cough, fever of 100 degrees or higher and sore throat, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.

Those who think they have influenza should call their health care provider and discuss whether they need to be seen in their office, the emergency department or stay home.

For more information on swine flu, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ or www.MyFluSafety.com.

Additionally, the Florida Flu Information Line is 1-877-352-3581 and has been established to inform the public requesting H1N1 swine flu information.

If it is determined that H1N1 is responsible in this case, the health department will step-up educational programs to warn the public about the flu.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at 863-386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

**Shiloh** · September 12, 2009, 08:01 AM

Re: 14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms

Source: http://www.newssun.com/0916-tc-h1n1-swine-highlands

published: Friday, September 11, 2009
Sebring teen dies from flu-like illness

By TREY CHRISTY

trey.christy@newssun.com

SEBRING -- A 14-year-old Sebring High School freshman has died from a flu-like illness.

Although the boy's name has not been officially released, multiple people have confirmed that his name was Marquis Hamilton.

"(He) died this morning but there is no conformation if it was due to H1N1 swine flu," Thomas Moran, planning consultant for the Highlands County Health Department said Friday. "From what we understand he did have a fever and flu-like symptoms."

According to a press release from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, several public safety agencies responded to the Publix shopping center parking lot at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning.

"We learned that a parent was transporting his son to the hospital with severe stomach cramps and flu-like (symptoms,)" Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said in the press release. "While en route to Florida Hospital the parent observed that the child was not breathing and pulled into the parking lot and dialed 911 while attempting to give CPR."

Emergency Medical Services personnel attempted to resuscitate Hamilton while on the way to Highlands Regional Medical Center. They performed CPR for nearly an hour before he was pronounced dead at 5:36 a.m. at the hospital.

Tests are being conducted at Tampa General Hospital to determine if Hamilton had H1N1 swine flu.

Rodney Hollinger, deputy superintendent for the Highlands County School District, said he would not release the boys name out of "decency" and "concern for the family."

Hollinger said the boy had been out of school for a few days but he was not sure how many.

Parents of Sebring High School students were sent home a press release from the Health Department that went over strategies to keep the spread of the disease to a minimum.

They wanted to "remind everyone to wash their hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mounts with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing," the press release stated.

It said those precautions will greatly reduce the risk of transmission of all flu viruses, whether seasonal or H1N1.

The health department said Hamilton had no reported pre-existing conditions or chronic illnesses other than flu-like symptoms and a high fever the past few days, but would not speculate on the cause of death at this point.

"We will confirm with lab tests and at that point we can create a plan of what we are going to do next," Moran said.

Since May of this year there have been 37 confirmed cases of H1N1 swine flu in Highlands County, with the majority of the cases concentrated in children.

**kiwibird** · September 12, 2009, 08:52 AM

Re: 14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms

The random drinking water quality survey in Highlands County in central Florida conducted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FLDEP) revealed that 32% of total homeowner wells sampled (mostly into the surficial aquifer with poor construction) contained NO3-N in excess of the USEPA maximum contaminant level of 10 mg NO3-N L-1 (FLDEP, 1990, personal communication). This area is predominantly under citrus production; therefore, there is a need to investigate the fate of N applied to bearing citrus trees under current production practices, specifically with careful irrigation management. This study was conducted in a commercial grove of highly productive (with mean yield of 70?80 Mg ha-1) citrus trees that received different N sources and rates with optimal irrigation scheduling.

http://soil.scijournals.org/cgi/content/full/65/3/914

**Pathfinder** · September 12, 2009, 02:48 PM

Re: 14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms

Health department responds to student's tragic death

STILL NO CONFIRMATION IT WAS SWINE FLU, HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY

Highlands Today

Published: September 12, 2009

SEBRING - The Highlands County Health Department issued a press release Saturday afternoon regarding the death of Marquis Hamilton.

According to the press release, there are still no conclusive test results indicating that Hamilton, who died Friday morning, was infected with the H1N1 Swine Flu virus.

The report goes on to state that it is very important to understand that even if the test results were to be positive, this still does not mean that H1N1 Swine Flu was the cause of death. It is the responsibility of the medical examiner to issue the cause of death and this process will take some time.

"Our deepest sympathies are extended to family and friends," said Robert Palussek, administrator of the Highlands County Health Department. "We are also aware of the concerns of parents with school children and of how a death of a young man can cause alarm. The situation now is that we are experiencing an influenza pandemic globally and it will be around for over a year. The last influenza pandemic was over forty years ago and we need to understand the differences of seasonal flu and the pandemic flu."

The Highlands County Health Department would like to remind everyone to wash their hands frequently, stay home from work or school if they feel ill, and cover their mouths with a tissue or their sleeve if they are coughing. These common sense precautions will greatly reduce the risk of transmission of all flu viruses, whether seasonal or H1N1 Swine Flu.

The H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine is scheduled to be available in mid-October for the selected risk groups:
? Pregnant women
? All children from six months to 24 years old
? Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than six months
? Individuals 25-64 years old who have health conditions associated with a higher risk of medical complications from influenza, such as asthma and diabetes
? Healthcare/emergency medical services personnel that have direct contact with infected patients
Vaccines will be available to the public after the risk groups have had the opportunity to be vaccinated.

If you experience flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider or hospital for instructions about receiving treatment. People experiencing cough, fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and sore throat, possibly along with diarrhea and vomiting, should contact their physician.

For more information on H1N1 Swine Flu, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. Individuals can also visit www.MyFluSafety.com for information on H1N1 Swine Flu and Florida. Additionally the Florida Flu Information Line is 1-877-352-3581 and has been established to inform the public requesting H1N1 Swine Flu information.

"The Highlands County Health Department will provide all new information as it develops," said Thomas Moran, planning consultant.

http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2009/sep/12/health-department-responds-students-tragic-death/

**Shiloh** · September 15, 2009, 02:58 PM

Re: 14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms- confirmed

Source: http://www2.highlandstoday.com/conte...had-swine-flu/

Marquis Hamilton had swine flu
Highlands Today staff

Published: September 15, 2009

SEBRING - Marquis Hamilton, the Sebring High School student who died Friday morning, tested positive for the H1N1 flu.

Thomas Moran with the Highlands County Health Department said the results were learned about 3 p.m. Tuesday.

"Our hearts go out to the family," Moran said. "We can't imagine the loss they must feel."

The health department is still awaiting autopsy results from the medical examiner which will reveal why Marquis died, Moran said.

"The H1N1 flu may not have been the cause of death," Moran said.

A press release from the health department is expected soon.

Announcement

14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms- confirmed

14-year-old dead; had flu-like symptoms- confirmed

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