4-year-old Tulsan's death may be linked to H1N1- CONFIRMED

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story...MVf2BkwKQ.cspx

4-year-old Tulsan's death may be linked to H1N1
Last Update: 8:46 pm

State health officials are trying to determine if a Tulsa boy's death was caused by swine flu.

According to a Tulsa Health Department spokesperson, a four-year-old boy tested positive for "Type A" Flu.

A lab sample has been sent to the State Department of Health for confirmation of H1N1.

The Centers For Disease control reports 81 children nationwide have died from the infection.

Because so many kids are getting sick with both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus, the children's dose of Tamiflu is hard to come by.

Tamiflu is a prescription medication both treats and prevents flu symptoms if taken with 48 hours of exposure to the flu, or the on set of symptoms.

Compounding pharmacies are able to take the adult form of the drug, and make into a syrup that can be given to kids.

Dr. Mark VanHolt is a Pharmacist at Saffa Compounding Pharmacy at 81st Street and South Sheridan. He tells 2NEWS the children's dose of Tamiflu is in short supply because the early onset of flu season, combined with the widespread infection of both strains.

VanHolt says, "The manufacturer is not able to supply it all. As far as that goes, the only way they are able to get it is through the capsule from and we turn into a suspension form."

That suspension form is a syrup. It's compounded with a collection of sweet flavors, such as cotton candy, that make it easier for children to swallow.

It's not produced by drug companies, so the only way parents can get it, it by bringing their child's prescription to a compounding pharmacy, such as Saffa.

Some insurance companies won't cover compounded medications. So check with your insurance carrier to find out if you are covered.

Due to the risk of side effects, some pediatricians recommend healthy children heal from the flu on their own, instead of taking Tamiflu.

[Shiloh]

Re: 4-year-old Tulsan's death may be linked to H1N1

Source: http://www.fox23.com/news/local/stor...McpkeVZKQ.cspx


Possible Child H1-N1 Death Being Investigated
Reported by: Sharon Phillips
Email: sphillips@fox23.com
Last Update: 8:34 am
(Tulsa, Ok) Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009

Questions today regarding the death of a Cooper Elementary student. The Tulsa County Health Department wants to know if he died from the H1-N1 virus.

The Health Department says the child did test positive for Influenza A, and so his lab samples were sent to be tested by the Oklahoma State Department of Health for confirmation of H1-N1.

The boy died on Saturday at Saint Francis Hospital here in Tulsa. The boy's aunt tells Fox 23 that a doctor at the hospital told the family he did indeed die from the Swine Flu.

If it is confirmed that he died from H1-N1, his death will be the 5th Swine Flu death here in Oklahoma.

A nurse at Saint Francis says the boy did have a pre-existing condition.

To keep the Flu from spreading to other people, the Health Department recommends that sick children stay home. Also, any child who becomes sick at school should be sent home right away. It's also important for parents to watch out for any signs that their child might becoming sick.

The boy's funeral is scheduled for today.

[Shiloh]

Re: 4-year-old Tulsan's death may be linked to H1N1- CONFIRMED

Source: http://www.fox23.com/mostpopular/sto...McpkeVZKQ.cspx

4-Year-Old Dies Of H1N1

Tulsa, Ok) Wednesday, Oct 14, 2009

A Cooper Elementary student has died of H1N1. The Tulsa County Health Department confirming that just before noon Wednesday.

The Health Department says lab tests are positive for H1N1. The boy died on Saturday at Saint Francis Hospital here in Tulsa.

The child's death is the seventh swine flu death here in Oklahoma.

To keep the flu from spreading to other people, the Health Department recommends that sick children stay home. Also, any child who becomes sick at school should be sent home right away. It's also important for parents to watch out for any signs that their child might becoming sick.

The boy's funeral is scheduled for today.

[Shiloh]

Re: 4-year-old Tulsan's death may be linked to H1N1- CONFIRMED

Source: http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/1009/668723.html

Parents React to 4-Year-Old H1N1 Death
10/14/09 10:15 pm | reporter: Jerry Giordano producer: Natalie Andes
VIDEO

Tulsa, OK - Funeral services were held Wednesday for 4-year-old Geato McCarty. McCarty died on Saturday as a result of the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

Geato was a pre-K student at Cooper Elementary School in East Tulsa. It's making parents very nervous.

Jennifer Rogers is picking her kids up from school.

"My kids go to Cooper Elementary. I have an 11-year-old in fifth grade and a 9-year-old in fourth grade," explains Rogers.

But things at Cooper Elementary are different now, after it was confirmed that 4 year old pre-k student, Geato McCarty, died from H1N1 swine flu.

"It's scary. You don't want to think about it," says Rogers.

And lots of people feel the very same way.

Parents were sent home a letter talking about how to handle a tragic loss and avoid spreading infectious disease. And it's not the first deadly case. An East Central High School student also died from H1N1 a few weeks back.

"Unfortunately, we've had our second deadly case in Tulsa County and they are both children. This should stand as a tragic reminder," explains Melanie Christian of the Tulsa County Health Department.

It's a reminder to be safe and take proper precautions. Jennifer Rogers is already doing her part.

"My son was recently sick and I kept him out for a week. I don't want him spreading it. I kept him out of sports everything," explains Rogers.

Since September 1st, 6 Oklahomans have died as a result of the H1N1 virus.

[prepdeb]

Re: 4-year-old Tulsan's death may be linked to H1N1- CONFIRMED

Tulsa County boy's death confirmed H1N1 flu

by: SUSAN HYLTON World Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
10/14/2009 10:17:50 PM

A 4-year-old Tulsa County boy?s death was caused by the H1N1 virus, or swine flu, the Oklahoma State Department of Health confirmed Wednesday.

Geato McCarty, who was a pre-K student at Cooper Elementary School, 1808 S. 123rd E. Ave., died Saturday.

It?s not known if he had any underlying health conditions, Tulsa Health Department officials said.

There have been eight lab-confirmed H1N1 deaths in Oklahoma since Sept. 1, when such deaths began being reported to the Centers for Disease Control, said state Health Department spokeswoman Pamela Williams. Three of the deaths were children younger than 18, and most had an underlying medical condition, she said.

A Tulsa teenager died earlier this month from swine flu, state health officials confirmed last week. LaTowyn Gaston, 16, was identified by his aunt, who said he had no previous chronic health problems.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Sapulpa parents and their children were lined up at least a city block long Wednesday for doses of the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccine at the high school gym.

An estimated 450 doses of H1N1 vaccine ? in both the spray and injectable form ? were administered, officials said, along with about 275 seasonal flu vaccine doses.

The Creek County Health Department showed up with 1,000 doses, which was fortunate because the turnout was much bigger than anticipated, Sapulpa Superintendent Mary Webb said.

People started arriving about 2 p.m. for the 4-7:30 p.m. event. Six Sapulpa police officers helped with crowd control.

Susan Brandon was the last person in line just after 5 p.m. and was worried that there wouldn?t be any vaccine left when it was her children?s turn. But with everything she?d seen and read, and one child who has asthma, she decided to wait it out.

?I just read in the news that a 4-year-old child died. That?s pretty scary when you have three kids in the public school system,? Brandon said.

Lisa Nichols? 9-year-old son, Christopher, has asthma any time he gets a respiratory infection, so she was glad the vaccine was offered.

?You?re always a little skeptical, but all the doctors I asked said it?s much better to get the shot,? Nichols said.

Sapulpa was one of the first schools to be offered the H1N1 vaccine, said Don Blose, immunization chief at the state Health Department. Other schools include Newcastle, and several in Comanche County.

Schools are selected based on their absentee rate.

?If we can get kids vaccinated, it will just slow the spread of flu to other members of the community,? Blose said.

Richard Forbes, programs manager for the Creek County Health Department, said Sapulpa is one of 20 schools they hope to vaccinate in Creek, Wagoner and Pawnee counties.

A small allotment of H1N1, or swine flu, vaccine arrived in Tulsa late last week. That has already been used to vaccinate hospital health-care workers and more than 100 children at Limestone Elementary School in Sand Springs, said Melanie Christian, spokeswoman for the Tulsa Health Department.

More H1N1 vaccine is expected to follow next week, federal health officials have said. Shannon Muchmore contributed to this story.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20091014_11_0_Tedaho122094