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**AlaskaDenise** · September 5, 2009, 09:22 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

This is the second death in Alaska.

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**Snowy Owl** · September 5, 2009, 09:31 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

AlaskaDenise,

Any details on reasons that would eplain the Boy death in 36 hours??

A school nurse sent the child home around noon on Thursday with flu symptoms and the child was admitted to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital overnight. The child was later transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage and died Friday eventing. Post 1

Snowy

**AlaskaDenise** · September 5, 2009, 09:34 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

Alaska child dies of swine flu

(09/05/09 18:14:43)
A 10-year-old Fairbanks child died in Anchorage Friday night from a suspected case of H1N1, or swine flu, according to state health officials.

The school nurse sent the child home from Hunter Elementary School in Fairbanks around noon on Thursday with symptoms of the flu, and the child was admitted to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital that night. The child was not doing well, and was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center. Doctors pronounced the child dead late Friday evening, state health officials said in a written statement.

State officials said the death was the first probable swine-flu related death of a child in the state. In an unrelated case, the state said, an infant with pre-existing medical conditions died last week in Anchorage from complications possibly related to swine flu. That case is still under investigation.

The state is asking schools to take the following precautions related to the flu:

? Students and staff should stay home if they are sick

? Separate ill students and staff until they can go home

? Encourage hand washing and coughing or sneezing into a sleeve or a tissue

? Encourage routine cleaning of hard surfaces that are frequently touched

? Encourage early treatment of high-risk persons

Anchorage Daily News

http://www.adn.com/life/health/story/924273.html

**AlaskaDenise** · September 5, 2009, 09:39 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

Originally posted by Snowy Owl View Post

AlaskaDenise,

Any details on reasons that would eplain the Boy death in 36 hours??

........

The story just hit the newswires here minutes ago.

I'll be listening to state radio (NPR has good state coverage) and local TV for more news.

There is clearly a flu bug making the rounds here. I've seen cases in Anchorage, in my community, and now Fairbanks.

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**AlaskaDenise** · September 5, 2009, 10:11 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

Fairbanks child dies of probable swine flu infection

Updated: Sep 05, 2009 6:58 PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Alaska has recorded its first likely child fatality from swine flu.

A 10-year-old Fairbanks child has died from symptoms of probable H1N1 or swine flu virus, the state Department of Health and Social Services said.

A school nurse sent the child home around noon on Thursday with flu symptoms and the child was admitted to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital overnight.

After not responding well to treatment, the child was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage and was pronounced dead late in the evening on Friday. The child was a student of Hunter Elementary School in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District and did not have any underlying medical conditions.

"The death of any child is particularly tragic, and our sympathies go out to the family," DHSS Commissioner Bill Hogan said in a press release. "Everyone acted quickly to get this child help. Despite this sad outcome, this shows how important school nurses and others on the front lines are to getting people with flu symptoms the help they need."

According to school district head nurse Maureen Kauleinamoku, 1,855 students have been seen by school nurses and 900 student absences have been linked to flu-like symptoms.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the student," said Fairbanks North Star Borough Superintendent of Schools Nancy Wagner.

"Although most people who get H1N1 flu have a mild illness and quick recovery, this death is a sobering reminder that it can be a serious illness," acting state Public Health Director Deborah Erickson said. "We all need to pay attention and do what we can to help reduce the spread of the virus."

The state has advised schools to take the following precautions related to the flu this fall:

Students and staff should stay home if they are sick
Separate ill students and staff until they can go home
Encourage regular hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette
Encourage routine cleaning of hard surfaces that are frequently touched
Encourage early treatment of high-risk persons
School closure is not recommended at this time unless the number of sick faculty members or students interferes with the school's ability to function. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that schools provide time for students to wash their hands whenever necessary and make tissues readily available to students and staff.

Unrelated to this case, an infant with pre-existing medical conditions died this past week in Anchorage from complications possibly related to H1N1 flu. State officials are currently investigating this case.

The state of Alaska has been told by the CDC that the first shipment of H1N1 vaccine will arrive in the state by mid-October. Initial supplies of the vaccine will be targeted for high priority groups. The state of Alaska is currently holding workshops in local communities to assist those communities in planning to distribute the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

Flu symptoms (both regular seasonal flu and novel H1N1 flu) include fever, cough, sore throat, chills, runny nose, fatigue, body aches, headache and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, without use of fever-reducing medicines and regardless of whether or not they are using antiviral drugs.

Other everyday actions to take to prevent the spread of viruses:

Cough or sneeze into your sleeve, or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Stay home if you get sick. The CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

More health information on H1N1 can be found at http://www.pandemicflu.alaska.gov/.

To view the school/parent H1N1 Web site developed by the Alaska Department of Education, please visit: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/.

404 / Page Not Found

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11082842

**AlaskaDenise** · September 6, 2009, 01:06 AM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

The late night TV news said the boy tested positive on a rapid A test while being evaluated in Fairbanks. Other patient data is the same as the above posts.

The medical professional being interviewed said it is possible to have false positives.

I don't remember hearing that.

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**tropical** · September 6, 2009, 02:11 AM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

#6:
"... this death is a sobering reminder that it can be a serious illness," acting state Public Health Director Deborah Erickson said. "We all need to pay attention and do what we can to help reduce the spread of the virus."
...
School closure is not recommended at this time unless the number of sick faculty members or students interferes with the school's ability to function."

**AlaskaDenise** · September 6, 2009, 03:27 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

(I'm only posting the new information from the article)
----------------------------------------------
(snipped)
State health officials were taken aback by how rapidly the disease took the life of the Fairbanks boy and were trying to gather more information. Officials didn't release the child's name. They said they didn't have information on any underlying health conditions he might have had.

"We have talked to people at the Centers for Disease Control, a flu expert there, just today, who said this is an extremely rapid downhill course," said Beth Funk, medical epidemiologist with the state Division of Public Health. But it wasn't unheard-of, she was told.

Secondary bacterial infections can creep in when the influenza virus damages the lining along the throat, the bronchial tree and the lungs, weakening the immune system, Funk said, relaying what the CDC expert said. Those bacterial infections then can kill, though no one yet knows if that's what happened to the boy.

"I know that people are going to be very, very concerned, and we are as well," Funk said. "There is a tendency to react and do things differently. However, we really are not recommending anything different than we have been."

The major public health push is to prevent the virus from spreading, she said.

(end snip)

Anchorage Daily News

http://www.adn.com/life/health/story/924273.html

**Treyfish** · September 6, 2009, 04:07 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

Swine flu suspected in Alaska child's death

FAIRBANKS BOY: The 10-year-old was sent home from school Thursday.
By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Published: September 5th, 2009 06:14 PM
Last Modified: September 5th, 2009 10:12 PM
A 10-year-old Fairbanks boy died in Anchorage Friday night from a suspected case of H1N1, or swine flu, state health officials said.
Story tools
Comments (48)

The boy is the third Alaskan, and the first school-aged child, to die of what appears to be swine flu.
The nurse at Hunter Elementary School in Fairbanks sent the child home from school around noon on Thursday with symptoms of the flu, mainly coughing and chest pain, said Clay Butcher, spokesman for the state health department. The boy was admitted to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital early Friday but did not respond well to treatment, state officials said.
The boy was medevacked to Providence Alaska Medical Center. Doctors pronounced the child dead at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, officials said.
An infant who had additional medical problems died Wednesday in Anchorage from complications possibly related to swine flu. That case is still under investigation. A Fairbanks woman who died July 16 in Washington state counted as Alaska's first death. The woman had underlying health problems.
State health officials were taken aback by how rapidly the disease took the life of the Fairbanks boy and were trying to gather more information. Officials didn't release the child's name. They said they didn't have information on any underlying health conditions he might have had.



"We have talked to people at the Centers for Disease Control, a flu expert there, just today, who said this is an extremely rapid downhill course," said Beth Funk, medical epidemiologist with the state Division of Public Health. But it wasn't unheard-of, she was told.
Secondary bacterial infections can creep in when the influenza virus damages the lining along the throat, the bronchial tree and the lungs, weakening the immune system, Funk said, relaying what the CDC expert said. Those bacterial infections then can kill, though no one yet knows if that's what happened to the boy.
"I know that people are going to be very, very concerned, and we are as well," Funk said. "There is a tendency to react and do things differently. However, we really are not recommending anything different than we have been."
The major public health push is to prevent the virus from spreading, she said.
Health officials recommend that schools:
? Emphasize that students and staff stay home if they are sick.
? Separate ill students and staff from those who are healthy until the sick ones can go home.
? Encourage hand washing and coughing or sneezing into a sleeve or a tissue. Hand sanitizers are also good.
? Encourage routine cleaning of hard surfaces that are frequently touched.
? Encourage people with other health issues to get early medical treatment.
Everyone involved took the boy's illness seriously and got him help quickly, Funk said.
"From the school, through the family, through the providers who were taking care of this child who died last night, they did all of the right things," Funk said. Among other things, the boy received antiviral medication, she said.
A vaccine to control H1N1 is being produced. The first doses are expected to arrive in Alaska by mid-October. The vaccine will go initially to high-priority groups; public health officials are still working out who that will be.
There's no indication that swine flu is especially dangerous but it is expected to infect more people than normally are infected by seasonal flu.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Across Alaska, there were 460 confirmed cases of H1N1 as of Wednesday. With so many cases, officials now are only testing the most seriously ill people; those with mild symptoms aren't being tested and their cases aren't showing up in the official count.
School officials around the state say they've been vigilant about swine flu. When children or staff members become ill, they are supposed to stay home until they've been fever-free for 24 hours.
"I would say by now we probably have had some cases in every single school but we don't know how many because sometimes parents just keep their children home," said Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau. "Sometimes parents call and say that they think their children have H1N1. Others call with a specific diagnosis."
When schools reopen in Fairbanks on Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday, counselors will be ready to help anyone grieving the child's death at Hunter Elementary, said Bill Bailey, spokesman for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the student," Fairbanks North Star Borough Superintendent Nancy Wagner said in a written statement. "This is truly a tragic incident and a tragic day for one of our families."

http://www.adn.com/life/health/story/924273.html

**Treyfish** · September 6, 2009, 04:10 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : Sept. 6, 2009

Contact:
DHSS: Clay Butcher, (907) 269-7867, Cell (907) 351-2778; clay.butcher@alaska.gov

DHSS: Susan Morgan, (907) 269-4996, Cell (907) 632-6107; susan.morgan@alaska.gov

Update: Alaska confirms H1N1-related death of a child
Fairbanks 10-year old dies of H1N1 flu in Anchorage hospital

State public health officials report that the 10-year old Fairbanks child who died Friday tested positive for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. Lab specimens were analyzed at the state public health lab in Anchorage. A confirmation of H1N1 virus was determined late Saturday night, Sept. 5, 2009.
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Fairbanks North Star Borough and Department of Education and Early Development, and other officials will be available to answer questions on this case and about H1N1 in Alaska.

WHAT:

Press availability: Alaska?s first confirmed H1N1-related death of a child
WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 6, 1 p.m.?2 p.m.

WHERE:

3601 C St., Frontier Building, Suite 890

WHO:

Dr. Elizabeth Funk, state Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health; and others, including representatives of the state Department of Education and Early Development, the Municipality of Anchorage and Fairbanks North Star Borough and Providence Alaska Medical Center.

For call in, dial 1-800-791-2345 code 24614#.

More health information on H1N1 can be found at http://www.pandemicflu.alaska.gov/.

To view the school/parent H1N1 website developed by the Alaska Department of Education, please visit: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/.

http://hss.state.ak.us/press/2009/H1...609_update.pdf

**AlaskaDenise** · September 6, 2009, 08:10 PM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu- confirmed

Tonight's TV news didn't have anything new on this case or for general influenza prevention. They blamed the rapid death on a "probable" secondary bacterial infection! Promptly followed by the standard.....we don't know for sure.

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**tropical** · September 7, 2009, 01:06 AM

Re: Fairbanks boy dies from suspected swine flu- confirmed

#9/10 news text:
"The major public health push is to prevent the virus from spreading, she said."

Maybe I'm of restricted horizons (

) ..., but,
I don't see this major pushing of spreading prevention, especialy in the most worldwide seen actual suggestions moves of opening regularly the schools.

**AlaskaDenise** · September 7, 2009, 01:48 AM

Re: TWO Fairbanks boys have H1N1 - one dies from suspected swine flu- confirmed

I changed the thread title to reflect the facts in the following report - TWO Fairbanks boys, about the same age, contracted H1N1 at about the same time.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fairbanks boy confirmed to have swine flu

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- State health officials confirmed Sunday that a Fairbanks boy who died last week did have swine flu, but they're not ready to say yet whether that's what killed him.

Health officials suspected all along that the 10-year-old, who otherwise seemed healthy, had the illness, but they did not know for sure until lab results came in early Sunday morning. Now it's a wait for even more tests to determine precisely what he died from.

This happened just as health officials are also looking into two other child cases of swine flu that also have their attention.

"Anytime a child dies within a day, day-and-a-half, it's very alarming," said Dr. Elizabeth Funk, the Alaska state epidemiologist.

She also says the recent swine flu-related death caught doctors off guard.

"This child had been previously healthy on Thursday morning -- had gone to school as usual," Funk said.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, the Department of Health and Social Services talked about the death of the Fairbanks boy: a healthy child whose last visit to the doctor was two years ago. After suffering from flu-like symptoms, the Hunter Elementary School nurse sent him home around noon Thursday.

"He became confused and less responsive. His oxygen level and his blood deteriorated and they made arrangements in the later afternoon to transfer him to Providence Hospital," said Funk.

He died there Friday evening.

"So we have confirmation that this child did indeed have H1N1 influenza," said Funk.

That hasn't been the only case at Providence Alaska Medical Center.

"Another child about the same age had been transported from Fairbanks to Providence memorial hospital, I believe on the same day. That child had a rapid influenza A test as well," said Funk.

Providence officials say this child remains in the hospital and is recovering.

That was not the case, however, for an 11-month-old that tested positive for H1N1 in July.

"That child recovered well enough to return home, but then had to be readmitted recently and then died," said Funk.

Health officials are still investigating what killed the infant this week, but reported that the child had other medical issues.

Meanwhile, the state is working on getting a swine flu vaccine in October. The vaccine will target anyone six months to 24 years of age, anyone with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and healthcare workers.

"We're anticipating that we may get around 35,000 doses somewhere in the first or second week of October," said state immunization manager Laurel Woods.

Until then, health officials say that if you're sick, you should stay home, because the chances are that if you have flu-like symptoms, it's the swine flu.

Health officials say they are not currently monitoring any other cases at this time, and they stress that this is not the time to panic.

Funk said that H1N1 is much like the seasonal flu -- most people will fight the virus and recover just fine. Still, some will not. Seasonal influenza kills about 30,000 people a year.

The North Borough School District says it has no plans to close down any schools. But Hunter Elementary will have grief counseling available to teachers and students upon return on Tuesday.

In the case of the 10-year-old from Fairbanks, doctors say he did not appear to have any pre-existing health conditions. During the press conference Sunday, Funk called the case unusual, but not unheard of.

The Centers for Disease Control says there have been other cases where a perfectly healthy person died in a matter of days. The CDC says it's likely the child had a secondary bacterial infection that could have complicated the course of the illness.

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http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11085154

**AlaskaDenise** · September 7, 2009, 10:34 PM

Re: TWO Fairbanks boys have H1N1 - one dies, one recovering, & an 11 month old's death

On tonights TV news, they reported that the one Fairbanks boy who died, had multi-organ failure several hours before he died.

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