16-year-old becomes fifth to die from A/H1N1 in Dallas County

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Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1c99ed5c8.html

16-year-old becomes fifth to die from swine flu in Dallas County 10:43 AM CT

10:47 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 29, 2009

By SARAH ACOSTA / The Dallas Morning News

Health officials have confirmed that a fifth person, a 16-year-old, has died from the swine flu in Dallas County.

WFAA-TV reported that the person was a student at Berkner High School in Richardson. A Richardson school district spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment this morning.

The death comes as Dallas-Fort Worth continues to deal with the spread of the flu.

A Collin County middle school reopened today after closing Monday because of heavy absenteesim. Nearly a third of Sloan Creek Middle School students missed school on Friday, according to the Lovejoy school district.

About 30 miles southwest, the Lewisville school district reported an increased number of absences at its five high schools on Monday. Hebron High reported 300 absences, about five times more than normal, school officials said.

Over the weekend, 14-year-old Chloe Lindsey, a student at Leonard Middle School in Fort Worth, died from complications of influenza, her family said. Tarrant County health officials confirmed today that a child died from the swine flu on Sunday.

Earlier this month, Dallas County officials also announced the death of 11-year-old Cynthia Garcia of Garland. The Price Elementary School student had no underlying medical conditions.

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Re: 16-year-old becomes fifth to die from A/H1N1 in Dallas County

Source: http://www.khou.com/news/state/stori...1ce2c0e59.html

N. Texas school closes after kids come down with flu-like illness

07:40 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 30, 2009

By STEVE STOLER / WFAA-TV

ADDISON, Texas -- Trinity Christian Academy of Addison announced late Tuesday evening that classes are canceled for the rest of the week due to a high number of absences.

School officials said too many students were out with flu-like symptoms. Extracurricular activities at the school were also canceled until Monday.

The news came on the heel of another North Texas child's death. It was announced Tuesday that Lana Trinh, a 16-year-old special needs student at Berkner High School in Richardson, died from the swine flu. Her last day at the school was on September 18, said a Richardson Independent School District spokesman.

Trinh's death was the fifth related to the swine flu in Dallas County. Her death was also the third in recent days in the North Texas area. Chloe Lindsey died on Sunday and Cynthia Garcia in early September.

The school said there were no plans to close the campus since Trinh had little contact with students. Trinh's parents said the teen suffered from heart problems.

The flu influx has led many hospitals to change their daily operations. At Children's Medical Center of Dallas, new rules have been created to protect patients, employees and visitors.

Restrictions have been made on just who can enter the hospital. Those who are allowed inside, including visitors or employees, will be screened for flu-like symptoms. No visitors under the age of 12 will be allowed, and only two adults per patient can visit.

Pictures from inside the hospital show patients with flu symptoms are being kept isolated to stop the spread of the disease.

Doctors are now seeing three times the number of patients they normally see. However, of all those coming in, very few are being admitted since few have symptoms severe enough.

Doctors have been telling patients with symptoms to take fever reducers, drink lots of liquids and get plenty of rest.

Those with question related to the seasonal or swine flu can call 211, which has medical professionals across the state answering questions.

Texas will be getting significantly fewer H1N1 flu vaccines than requested. Of the 3.4 million doses requested, the state is estimated to receive only get half of that number in the first round of deliveries.

E-mail sstoler@wfaa.com