Price Elementary pupil dies - confirmed A/H1N1

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.scntx.com/articles/2009/0...update/317.txt

Price Elementary pupil dies from flu-like symptoms
By Rick Mann
Published: Monday, September 14, 2009 9:05 AM CDT

An 11-year-old girl from Mesquite died Saturday night. The Vernon Price Elementary student died from flu-like symptoms, according to Ian Halperin, Mesquite Independent School District spokesman.


"The H1N1 virus is suspected but not confirmed," Halperin said.

The school district Monday morning was in the process of notifying all parents of Price Elementary pupils to inform them of the death. Counselors are being made available for all children at Price, along with members of the faculty and staff.

"We are following the guidelines of the health department and the CDC," Halperin said. "We had a crew at the school last night cleaning and sanitizing by hand the entire facility."

[Shiloh]

Re: Price Elementary pupil dies from flu-like symptoms

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dw...17cd15027.html

Officials investigate Garland student's sudden swine flu death

12:48 PM CDT on Monday, September 14, 2009

By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA-TV

SWINE FLU DEATH
September 14th, 2009
Janet St. James reports.

The first child in North Texas died of swine flu over the weekend.

Mesquite ISD have alerted parents to the death.

The student, an 11-year-old girl, was a fifth grader at Price Elementary in Garland.

School officials say she went home sick from school with a fever Thursday.

She saw a doctor that day and then went home.

She was taken to the hospital Saturday in respiratory distress and died that day.

Health officials are still gathering information on the case but at this point we do not know of any other underlying medical condition that would contribute to this alarmingly quick death.
WFAA-TV
Health experts predict the H1N1 virus will spread in schools.

Health experts have predicted the H1N1 virus would spread in schools most dramatically.

Price Elementary, like other schools, has cases of the flu but not higher, we're told, than other schools.

School officials are attempting to reassure parents they're doing what they can to control the spread of H1N1 virus. They are urging parents to check the Mesquite ISD website for updated information.

E-mail jstjames@wfaa.com.

[Pathfinder]

Re: Price Elementary pupil dies from flu-like symptoms

Girl Dies From H1N1 Virus

By STACY MORROW

Updated 2:57 PM CDT, Mon, Sep 14, 2009


An 11-year-old Mesquite girl died after becoming ill with the H1N1 virus, Dallas County Health officials confirmed Monday.

Cynthia Garcia, a fifth grader at Vernon Price Elementary, died at a hospital Saturday night, said Ian Halperin, a spokesman for the Mesquite Independent School District. Health officials are trying to determine whether an underlying health condition contributed to her death.

Garcia left school early Thursday complaining of flu-related symptoms, MISD spokeswoman Laura Jobe said.

"We are following the guidelines of the health department and the CDC," Halperin told StarLocalNews.com. "We had a crew at the school last night cleaning and sanitizing by hand the entire facility."


Cynthia Garcia Vernon Price Elementary has had some cases of flu-like illness among students this school year; however, it doesn't have an unusually high number of cases when compared with other district campuses, MISD officials said.

The school district said counselors were being made available for students, the faculty and staff.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/Mesquite-Girl-Dies-From-H1N1-Virus-59257117.html

[Shiloh]

Re: Price Elementary pupil dies from flu-like symptoms

Source: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-bea...-59257117.html

Girl Dies From H1N1 Virus
By STACY MORROW
Updated 3:01 PM CDT, Mon, Sep 14, 2009

An 11-year-old Mesquite girl died after becoming ill with the H1N1 virus, Dallas County Health officials confirmed Monday.

Cynthia Garcia, a fifth grader at Vernon Price Elementary, died at a hospital Saturday night, said Ian Halperin, a spokesman for the Mesquite Independent School District. Health officials are trying to determine whether an underlying health condition contributed to her death.

Garcia left school early Thursday complaining of flu-related symptoms, MISD spokeswoman Laura Jobe said.

"We are following the guidelines of the health department and the CDC," Halperin told StarLocalNews.com. "We had a crew at the school last night cleaning and sanitizing by hand the entire facility."


Vernon Price Elementary has had some cases of flu-like illness among students this school year; however, it doesn't have an unusually high number of cases when compared with other district campuses, MISD officials said.

The school district said counselors were being made available for students, faculty and staff.

[Shiloh]

Re: Price Elementary pupil dies - confirmed A/H1N1

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/st...4/daily14.html

Monday, September 14, 2009, 4:28pm CDT
Third flu death in Dallas County confirmed
Dallas Business Journal

The Dallas County Health and Human Services department said Monday lab results indicate an 11-year-old Dallas County resident infected with the H1N1 virus, or ?swine flu,? died last week.

The child had no underlying conditions, but did have pneumonia and suffered from a bacterial infection, the report said. The death is the third swine flu-related death in Dallas County. The first occurred on Aug. 27 and involved a 52-year old female with an underlying medical condition. The second death involved a 37-year-old male who also suffered from an underlying medical condition.

?While this death is unfortunate, deaths associated with influenza occur every season,? said Chief Epidemiologist Dr. Wendy Chung in a statement.

The office declined to release the specific cities the three flu victims had lived in.

[Pathfinder]

Re: Price Elementary pupil dies - confirmed A/H1N1

Absences jump at school attended by Garland girl who died of swine flu

10:45 PM CDT on Tuesday, September 15, 2009

By KAREL HOLLOWAY / The Dallas Morning News


Dozens of students stayed home from Price Elementary School on Tuesday, more than four times the number absent the previous day as news spread that a sixth-grader at the school had died of swine flu.

Of the 87 who were absent Tuesday, 28 had flu symptoms, said Laura Jobe, a Mesquite school district spokeswoman. On Monday, about 20 students were absent, of which only a handful had flu symptoms.

Jobe said the district doesn't know if the other absent students were ill or if worried parents decided to keep them home.

"We don't have any way of knowing," she said.

Cynthia Garcia left school ill on Thursday and died Sunday, hours after being admitted to the hospital. She was the first child in Dallas County to die of swine flu and the first to die who didn't have a chronic health problem.

Cynthia also was the second Garland resident to die of swine flu, also called H1N1 influenza. Price Elementary is in Garland but part of the Mesquite school district.

Jobe acknowledged that the number of absences at Price was high, especially from those with flu symptoms. But "it's not alarming at this point," she said. The district has not discussed closing the school, which has about 550 students.

Dallas County health officials reiterated Tuesday that, while Cynthia's death is sad, it's not a sign that the swine flu is striking any harder.

But several residents who live near the school said they were concerned.

"We're all scared. We're petrified," said Susan Davis. She keeps children in her home, including several after school who attend Price.

She said even the toddlers were using hand sanitizer before coming in the house less than a block from the school. "I disinfected my door knob," she said.

The swiftness of the girl's death was particularly scary, Davis and other residents said.

Dr. Wendy Chung, the county's chief epidemiologist, would not comment on the specifics of Cynthia's illness. But she said studies have found that "it is not uncommon at all for it to be a very rapid course."

While the 11-year-old girl did not have an underlying medical condition, she did have a bacterial infection and pneumonia.

Chung said a recent study of 36 young people who died of swine flu found that two-thirds had a chronic health problem. A third had no underlying condition, but did have a bacterial infection that apparently began after the swine flu.

Cynthia had six brothers and sisters and all have been checked by a doctor, said her sister, Zuly Garcia.

"We're fine," the 14-year-old said softly Tuesday afternoon.

The family had just come from the funeral and was still gathered for support. Zuly said she misses her sister, "just being together."

Zuly said she didn't know when the children would go back to school. One of Cynthia's sisters goes to Price, two siblings go to North Mesquite High School and a brother attends Vanston Middle School. One sister graduated and another is too young for school.

Despite Cynthia's death, Chung said that not everyone with flu symptoms, even children, needs to see a doctor.

"What I didn't want was news of the death to have a great number of medical offices inundated with those with normal flu," Chung said. "Call your doctor first instead of heading to the ER."

Mesquite school officials, who had Price hand-cleaned over the weekend, said they handled the situation appropriately, sending Cynthia home after she fell ill.

The district sends children with a temperature home. School personnel decide to call parents based on other symptoms on a case-by-base basis, Jobe said.

Other districts including Richardson, Plano, McKinney and Allen said they are not making changes in school procedures because of the death.

The schools and health officials said the key to preventing the spread of the disease is keeping sick kids home. Students should be checked for fever or other symptoms at night or in the morning before heading to class.

"Use your parental instincts," Chung said.

Only those who seem particularly ill need prompt medical help. Signs to watch for include fast breathing, painful breathing, stomach pain, confusion or signs of dehydration.

"Even with my own child, I call my pediatrician," Chung said, "because I want another opinion."

Staff writers Emily Fox, Jessica Meyers, Valerie Wigglesworth and Jeffrey Weiss contributed to this report.

Non-swine flu shots
The Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services began offering children's flu vaccinations Tuesday. This vaccine does not protect against swine flu. Vaccine for that virus is expected in October.

Where: The shots are offered at the children's clinic in the health department's offices, 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway.

When: The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday. No appointments are necessary.

Cost: $5

Others: Vaccinations are available for adults from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Cost is $20.

Who needs it: The vaccine is recommended for children and adults, especially those with chronic medical conditions.

SOURCE: Dallas County Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/091609dnmetflufolo.3d2ce7f.html

[sharon sanders]

Re: Price Elementary pupil dies - confirmed A/H1N1

A bacterial co-infection such as Strep Throat or MRSA can result in a very negative outcome when someone becomes infected with Novel H1N1 influenza.