Child Dies In Custer County, - Not A/H1N1 (Strep)

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/64595462.html

Posted: 3:48 PM Oct 16, 2009
Child Dies In Custer County, Flu May Be To Blame
The Custer County Public Health Department announced Friday they are investigating the cause of death for a child who died after showing flu-like symptoms.
Reporter: KKTV

The Custer County Public Health Department announced Friday they are investigating the cause of death for a child who died after showing flu-like symptoms.

Custer County health officials say the victim had flu-like symptoms last week, but they have not yet determined the cause of death.

In the past weeks, Custer County have had children and adults in our community ill with influenza like illness.

The Custer County Health Department recommends taking the following precautions:

If you develop influenza like illness, stay home and treat the symptoms at home. However, if you are at high risk for developing complications from the flu, call your health care provider. Those people at high risk include: children younger than 5 years, pregnant women, people who have cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders, or weakened immune system.

Emergency warning signs to look for in children include: fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable the child does not want to be held, flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough, or fever with a rash.

In adults, emergency warning signs include: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, or severe or persistent vomiting.

Custer County Public Health is making every effort to get everyone protected as quickly as possible for both the seasonal and the H1N1 influenza.

For more information about influenza, please call Custer County Public Health 719-783-3369 or the CO HELP Line 1-877-462-2911. There is also a link for H1N1 information on the Custer County website by clicking on the link below.

[Shiloh]

Re: Child Dies In Custer County, - Not A/H1N1 (Strep)

Source: http://www.wetmountaintribune.com/home.asp?i=512&p=1

Illness claims local girl, 11 Health care officials blame infection, not H1N1 virus


The 11-year-old local girl who died last Friday did not test positive for the swine flu.

Audrey Wenger, a sixth grader at Custer County School, died at St.Thomas More Hospital in Canon City during the early morning hours of Oct. 16 following a sudden illness.

Officials from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment conducted an H1N1 influenza test on Wenger. The test was negative.

Instead, the cause of death was determined to be Type A Strep Septicemia, a generalized strep infection.

Further testing is also being conducted to determine if other factors contributed to her death.

In the week prior to her death, said Donna McDonnall of the Custer County Public Health Agency, Wenger did display influenza-like symptoms.

An obituary for Miss Wenger appears elsewhere in this week?s Tribune.

Several children and adults in Custer County have also been ill with similar symptoms.

Last week, when more than 70 Custer County School students were reported sick with flu-like symptoms, school officials closed the campus from Thursday, Oct. 15, through Monday, Oct. 19. Classes resumed Tuesday, October 20.

McDonnall also administered 200 swine flu vaccines to school age children last week.

Another swine flu and seasonal flu vaccine clinic was held on Saturday, Oct. 17. At that time, 75 shots were given to youth and others deemed at high risk for contracting the flu.

An additional swine flu and seasonal flu shot clinic has tentatively been scheduled for Nov. 14.

Those who develop influenza-like illnesses are encouraged to stay home and treat the symptoms. Symptoms are the same for both strains of flu.

Those symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, aching muscles, unusual tiredness and loss of appetite.

However, said McDonnall, those who are at high risk for developing complications from the flu are encouraged to seek medical attention from a health care provider.

Those at high risk include children younger than five years of age, pregnant women, and persons who have cancer, blood disorders, chronic lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders, or weakened immune systems.

Emergency warning signs to look for in children, said McDonnall, include fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting and being so irritable the child does not want to be held.

Often times the flu-like symptoms will seem to improve, said McDonnall, but then return with fever and a worse cough or fever with a rash.

In adults, emergency warning signs include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion and severe or persistent vomiting.

McDonnall also said it is important for persons to protect themselves from contracting the flu by washing hands often with soap and water or by using hand sanitizer gel, covering coughs and sneezes with the crook of arm, and staying home when sick, especially when there is a fever and cough.

In recent days, at least 14 deaths in the state have been attributed to swine flu.

For more information, call the Custer County Public Health Agency at 783-3369. There is also a link for H1N1 information on the Custer County website at www.custercountygov.com.

? Nora Drenner