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Source: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/heal...teen_swine_flu
Houston Teen With Swine Flu Dies
Updated: Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 9:42 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 5:14 PM CDT
* MENA EL-SHARKAWI
HOUSTON -
The Houston Health Department reports a 16-year-old Dobie High School junior died of a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus. This brings the total number of deaths in the Houston area to 12.
The deaths cover all age groups. The latest one is particularly tough because it affects a whole school.
For weeks family members didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. They believed Jose Sepulveda, 16, was just fighting an upper respiratory infection.
"He really didn't have any bad symptoms, just a dry cough, and to us we just thought it was his asthma," said Cynthia Sepulveda, Jose's mother.
But his mom soon learned there was something else terribly wrong. Around October 4th, Jose could hardly breathe, and his fingertips had turned purple. He wound up at Texas Children's Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and eventually swine flu.
"While he was unconscious, asleep, we would tell him everyday all day we were there and that we loved him," said Sepulveda.
Wednesday night, her son died. The H1N1 vaccine wasn't available before Jose got sick.
"While we want to make sure people with asthma and other conditions are protected and taken care of, everyone needs to take appropriate precautions. This virus is hitting everyone pretty hard," said Kathy Barton, Houston Health Department.
Barton says people with underlying health problems should call their doctor to see if and when they can get the vaccine.
"Be persistent. We feel bad because maybe we should have taken him sooner when his temperature was so high," said Sepulveda.
Health leaders are seeing more absences among high school students compared with lower grade levels. In the days ahead they expect to see more deaths.
Sepulveda says her son loved animals, his church and his family. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Houston Teen With Swine Flu Dies
Updated: Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 9:42 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 5:14 PM CDT
* MENA EL-SHARKAWI
HOUSTON -
The Houston Health Department reports a 16-year-old Dobie High School junior died of a confirmed case of the H1N1 virus. This brings the total number of deaths in the Houston area to 12.
The deaths cover all age groups. The latest one is particularly tough because it affects a whole school.
For weeks family members didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary. They believed Jose Sepulveda, 16, was just fighting an upper respiratory infection.
"He really didn't have any bad symptoms, just a dry cough, and to us we just thought it was his asthma," said Cynthia Sepulveda, Jose's mother.
But his mom soon learned there was something else terribly wrong. Around October 4th, Jose could hardly breathe, and his fingertips had turned purple. He wound up at Texas Children's Hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with pneumonia and eventually swine flu.
"While he was unconscious, asleep, we would tell him everyday all day we were there and that we loved him," said Sepulveda.
Wednesday night, her son died. The H1N1 vaccine wasn't available before Jose got sick.
"While we want to make sure people with asthma and other conditions are protected and taken care of, everyone needs to take appropriate precautions. This virus is hitting everyone pretty hard," said Kathy Barton, Houston Health Department.
Barton says people with underlying health problems should call their doctor to see if and when they can get the vaccine.
"Be persistent. We feel bad because maybe we should have taken him sooner when his temperature was so high," said Sepulveda.
Health leaders are seeing more absences among high school students compared with lower grade levels. In the days ahead they expect to see more deaths.
Sepulveda says her son loved animals, his church and his family. Funeral arrangements are pending.