Troy University student died Friday, swine flu confirmed

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www2.dothaneagle.com/dea/news..._friday/90609/

Troy University student died Friday, swine flu likely



By Ebony Horton

Published: September 5, 2009

A Troy University nursing student with ties to Ashford died after what could have been complications associated with swine flu, according to his family.

Andrew Salter, an 18-year-old freshman at the Troy campus who had attended Ashford High School, died Friday at Southeast Alabama Medical Center. While health officials from the medical center and the Houston County Health Department would not confirm who died, a fax to the Dothan Eagle from the state Department of Public Health reported that a Houston County man in his late teens had died from swine flu on Friday.

Andrew?s father, Ronnie Salter, said Andrew tested positive for regular flu on Sept. 3 and was treated with Tamiflu. Salter said Andrew had gotten better but was admitted to the medical center on Monday with pneumonia.

Andrew had never been admitted to a hospital before the sickness, Salter said.

?As someone in the medical field myself I don?t believe he died by H1N1, but I do think it made him so weak that it reduced the capability to fight off infection. A normal white blood cell count is between 4,000 and 11,000 and his had dropped to 2,300,? Salter said.

?But I don?t want the cause to overshadow all the good about him. He was very smart and had a very bright future, had lots of friends, had graduated with honors and will become an honorary member of his fraternity (Pi Kappa Phi).?

Troy University spokesman Andy Ellis said the campus was seeing cases of flu-like symptoms and continuing to take precautions, but that there were no records Salter was ever treated by university medical personnel.

?There are no records of ever seeing him for anything, but a university official had been informed by his father that he was treated for symptoms somewhere else,? Ellis said. ?We at the university are saddened by the death of one of our own, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family.?

The fax from the state health department said Friday?s death marked the fourth in the state from swine flu.

There were a total of 217 swine flu cases reported in Houston County as of Aug. 19, according to the department?s Web site.

There were a total of 1,587 confirmed cases reported statewide as of Aug. 19.

[Tonka]

Re: Troy University student died Friday, swine flu likely

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/09/08/h1n1

2 Student Deaths Linked to H1N1
September 8, 2009
Many of the articles here and elsewhere about H1N1 have noted that relatively few of the thousands of students with H1N1 or its symptoms have required hospitalization and that there have been no student deaths. Sadly, the latter statement is no longer true.

Andrew Salter, a freshman at Troy University, died Friday. News reports said that he had been treated for flu-like symptoms believed to be H1N1 and had been thought to be on the way to recovery. But apparently in a weakened state from the H1N1, he contracted pneumonia and was admitted to a hospital, where he died. Also, a continuing student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha died from H1N1 complications last month, but she had yet to arrive on campus for the fall semester when she died, The Omaha World-Herald reported. This student had significant and serious health problems before contracting H1N1, the newspaper said.


James Turner, president of the American College Health Association and executive director of student health at the University of Virginia, said in an interview he was "not surprised" that there have been fatalities related to H1N1. Turner stressed that he had no direct knowledge of the medical situations of these students. But in talking generally about what is known about H1N1, he said in past cases of dangerous flu outbreaks, many of the deaths have not been directly from the flu, but from pneumonia or other illnesses contracted while someone has the flu or is recovering from it.

Further, he said that people with serious health problems are much more likely than others to be hit hard by H1N1.

At the same time, he noted that at his campus (where there have been 34 cases in recent weeks, none serious enough to require hospitalization) and elsewhere, most students are recovering and doing so quickly. "We need to emphasize that the risk of something bad happening remains very low. It's not zero, but it remains low," he said.

Herbert Reeves, dean of students at Troy, said that the student who died had never sought treatment at the campus health center, but went home for treatment when he became ill. Since classes started for the fall semester three weeks ago, he said that the campus health center has been diagnosing five or six cases of flu each day. At the beginning, the center was sending swabs to state public health officials to confirm H1N1, but the public health centers are so overwhelmed that they told the university to stop sending the swabs and to just treat all of the cases as H1N1.

Most of the students have "self isolated," either by going home or staying in their rooms, Reeves said.

Reeves said he had last spoken with the father of the student who died a day before he passed away, so he had been hopeful that the student would recover. The university has been spreading the word since the semester started about the importance of preventing the spread of H1N1, and would continue those efforts.

One of the largest outbreaks to date was reported late last week at Washington State University, where more than 2,000 students are sick with H1N1-like symptoms, The Spokesman-Review reported. No students have been so sick as to require hospitalization

[Shiloh]

Re: Troy University student died Friday, swine flu likely

Source: http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11093482

Troy student believed dead from H1N1 virus
Posted: Sep 08, 2009 3:26 PM EST Updated: Sep 08, 2009 3:26 PM EST


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A Troy University student is believed to be the fourth person in Alabama to die from the swine flu.

Alabama Department of Public Health spokesman Jim McVay said Tuesday there have been four deaths from the swine flu virus in Alabama. The 18-year-old Troy student reportedly died Friday at Southeast Alabama Medical Center.

Troy University spokesman Andy Ellis said the school has taken precautions to protect students from the fast-spreading virus.

He said there are posters up across the campus encouraging students and staff to use proper hygiene and avoid contact with others.

He said students are being encouraged to see a physician if they have flu-like symptoms.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Tonka]

Re: Tragedy strikes fraternity

http://www.troymessenger.com/news/2009/sep/07/tragedy-strikes-fraternity/

Tragedy strikes fraternity
By Holli Keaton (Contact) | Troy Messenger

Published Monday, September 7, 2009

The death of Troy University student Andrew Salter, a likely swine flu victim, was not the only hardship members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity were hit with this weekend.

Early Saturday morning, two other pledge members of the fraternity were involved in a collision that left one seriously injured.

Anthony Mitchell, 21, of Fairhope, was airlifted to Montgomery after the vehicle wrecked on County Road 2221, five miles south of Troy, said Alabama State Trooper Spokesman Kevin Cook.

Mitchell was the passenger of the vehicle, driven by Bradley Beauregard, 18 of Troy.

Brett Singleton, president of Pi Kappa Phi, said both were members of the pledge class.

The news of Mitchell and Beauregard hit members of the fraternity hard, coming just a day after the death of pledge-class member Salter Friday afternoon.

?It?s been a rough week,? Singleton said.

According to Troy University Spokesman Andy Ellis, Salter, 18 of Valley, previously had the flu, but he was hospitalized for pneumonia. Ellis said he went into cardiac arrest in Dothan?s Southeast Alabama Medical Center, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

For fraternity brothers and friends, Salter?s likely flu-related death, was a shock.

?I was at my grandmother?s house when I found out, and it was a big shock,? said Patrick Phelps, a freshman from Lexington, N.C. ?It didn?t sink in at first. I was just talking to him last week.?

Singleton said Salter became ill in Troy a week before his death.

?The first I heard about it, we had flag football practice, and I asked where he was,? Singleton said. ?I was told he was sick at home, and then the next day heard he was in the hospital.?

Kelsey Mauldin, of Troy, met Salter in an English class, and though she had only known him a few months, the two became close friends.

?We didn?t know each other very long, but he liked to listen to music. We **** out a lot, and he loved his family,? Mauldin said.

Mauldin said one of her favorite times with her friend happened just last weekend, when she drove him home after he had the flu.

?I drove him down to Atmore and met his family,? Mauldin said. ?That was probably one of my favorite times.?

But just a week later, as Mauldin was driving to the Dothan hospital to see her friend, she heard the tragic news.

?I was on my way to the hospital to see him, and we were almost to Dothan when his dad told me,? Mauldin said.

Neither Mauldin nor Phelps ever imagined they would come this close to flu tragedy, especially since there have only been three prior H1N1 deaths in the state.

?I?m from North Carolina, and I hear about it on TV all the time and think I?m not even near that,? Phelps said.

?Then, I come down here and wouldn?t believe how many people in Troy have the flu. It was just a shock because you can?t believe someone you hang out with every couple of days is just gone.?

Mauldin said she was always cautious about the flu, but her friend?s death just came as a quick surprise. Mauldin tested positive for the flu herself Sunday but said she?s feeling better already.

As for Mitchell, Singleton said he is on his way to recovery in the Montgomery hospital.

?For about a day, they were telling us there was a 50 percent chance his arm would have to be amputated, but the last I heard, it?s not going to be amputated,? Singleton said.

?They said he was awake, but not really responsive yet.?

Cook said speeding was a factor in the wreck, but alcohol was not involved.

[Pathfinder]

Re: Troy University student died Friday, swine flu likely

Swine Flu Suspected in Death of Troy University Student
Reported by: Mike McClanahan
Last Update: 6:45 pm
Print Story | Share this Story


The 18 year old student died Friday. He's believed to be the fourth person in Alabama to die because of the virus.

A Troy University spokesman says the school is doing any and everything to prevent further spread of the flu.

Meanwhile, the rate of absenteeism in public schools has doubled statewide in the span of three weeks, according to State Superintendent of Education Joe Morton.

"You can see the spike up and we now as of Friday in the state are approaching seven percent state wide," said Morton.

Don Williamson with the Alabama Department of Public Health warns the situation on college campuses will get worse. "The challenge with colleges is, it's not just a learning environment, it's a living environment," said Don Williamson, ADPH.

Williamson says simply closing campuses or canceling classes won't work. He says the solution extends to what he describes as "sacred turf." The state health officer says people with flu-like symptoms must avoid sporting events.

"There is a very efficient way to transmit virus and that is by bringing your virus to the ball game and spreading it to the people who sit next to you," said Don Williamson, ADPH.

http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Swine-Flu-Suspected-in-Death-of-Troy-University/nQiMkdrdWkSJpeVm9wYWpQ.cspx?rss=1659

[Shiloh]

Re: Troy University student died Friday, swine flu confirmed

Source: http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11094965

Swine Flu claims Troy student's life
Posted: Sep 08, 2009 6:53 PM EST Updated: Sep 08, 2009 7:31 PM EST
Video Gallery
Alabama has fourth H1N1-related death
2:21

Posted by Bryan Henry

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Black ribbons hang on the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity sign at Troy University in memory of 18-year old Andrew Salter of Valley, Alabama.

"It's a shocker and it's so surreal," said fraternity president Brett Singletary.

Singletary admitted when he first heard about the H1N1 virus a few months ago he didn't take it seriously, never thought it would hit home. Salter's death changed all that.

"This hits home because I just saw him about 5 days before he got sick," said Singletary.

Andrew Salter was a freshman and lived at Alumni Hall. Salter's dad told WSFA 12 News that Andrew earned a partial scholarship to attend Troy University and ironically decided to major in nursing. The family confirms Andrew had no underlying medical issues. He was diagnosed with Swine flu last week and actually got better one day but took a turn for the worse on Friday when he passed away from pneumonia at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center in Dothan.

Herb Reeves is the Dean of Student Services. He says there are no plans for now to close down the university.

"We're all shocked by this but it would have to reach a point of affecting our student production," said Reeves who says the campus student health clinic averages about 5 cases of flu-like symptoms a day.

Andrew Salter becomes the 4th person in Alabama to die from Swine flu, and according to state health officials, Salter may not be the last.

As to why most people survive Swine flu and others don't, state health officials say it all comes down to the fact that all of our bodies are different; some people can handle the high temperature, for example, while warding off the flu with medications while the virus is simply too much for others.

A life cut short by Swine flu, an illness that's caught the attention of a fraternity president.

Salter's funeral is Thursday at 11 AM at the Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home in Midland City, Alabama. The family will accept visitors on Wednesday beginning at 5 PM.