The dead children thread - Pandemic A/H1N1 2009-2010

[Pathfinder]

Re: The dead children thread

Families Fighting Flu

Families Fighting Flu is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization established in 2004 that is made up of families and healthcare practitioners. Each family has experienced first-hand the death of a child due to the flu or has had a child experience severe medical complications from the flu. We are dedicated to educating people about the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children against the flu every year. Through education and advocacy, we hope to improve the rates of childhood flu vaccinations and help reduce the number of childhood illnesses and deaths caused by the flu each year.

For more information, visit www.familiesfightingflu.org or call 1-888-2ENDFLU.

To become a fan of FFF on Facebook go to www.facebook.com/familiesfightingflu.

To follow FFF on Twitter go to http://twitter.com/famfightflu.

SOURCE Families Fighting Flu (FFF)


http://www.familiesfightingflu.org

[Treyfish]

Re: The dead children thread

11 Mac, 2010 10:57 AM
A/H1N1 Flu Virus More Likely To Affect Children
<!--By: Ramjit
--> LOS ANGELES, March 11 (Bernama) -- The A/H1N1 flu virus is more likely to affect children once it spreads in a household setting, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said, reports China's Xinhua news agency on Wednesday.

However, the study said that the virus spreads slower than seasonal flu.

"We found that about nine percent of people who lived with a household member with (A/H1N1) flu also got flu," said leading researcher Oliver Morgan, an epidemic intelligence service officer at the center.

"We found that 18 percent of children under five, and 11 percent of children five to 18, got flu in the household," Morgan said, adding that children were more likely to introduce flu into the household.

The so-called attack rate of the A/H1N1 flu was four percent, which is lower than that seen with seasonal flu and lower than what would be expected for a pandemic flu, the researchers said.

Most of the flu and the highest attack rates were seen among children, reinforcing earlier findings that the A/H1N1 flu tends to target children and younger adults.

For the study, researchers at the center began looking at the A/H1N1 outbreak when it first started in the United States in April and May of 2009.

The researchers examined more than 3,400 flu samples from the San Antonio, Texas, one of the first sites to experience infections.

The researchers were able to identify 97 cases of the A/H1N1 flu in 77 households. In about 30 percent of the homes, additional family members became sick within four days of a child coming down with the flu.

This study proved earlier findings that the transmission rate of A/H1N1 strain may have been lower than anticipated.

However, experts noted that this study was done at the start of the pandemic and the findings may not hold up once later data are available, Xinhua said.http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/bm....php?id=481517

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: The dead children thread

Parents' warning after Christmas Day tragedy
10:51am Saturday 13th March 2010


A GRIEVING couple have urged other parents to vaccinate their children against deadly swine flu after discovering their little boy had died from the illness.

Distraught Sarah-Jane and Iain McCall found their 23-month-old toddler Andrew dead in his cot on Christmas morning.

Their plea is backed by health chiefs in Hampshire, who are warning parents not to ignore the threat of the killer virus - as swine flu jabs for under-fives are available for just two more weeks.

Sarah-Jane told how she had put her seemingly healthy toddler to bed on Christmas Eve.

But tragedy struck when the following morning the couple went to wake the little boy and found him face down.

Sarah-Jane said: "I went to touch him to wake him up but in that moment I knew my baby was dead and I was far, far too late because he was so cold.

"I picked him up in my arms but the coldness of his body ran through my entire body and left me numb."

The couple, from Lower Duncan Road, Park Gate, who were visiting Andrew's grandparents near Bristol, fought desperately to revive their only child but there was nothing they or paramedics could do to revive him.

"His death was a feeling of utter disbelief and shock that he had been so well and healthy the day before," said Sarah-Jane.

A post mortem revealed that Andrew, who had no underlying health issues, had died from swine flu.

Iain, a planning manager, said: "The only way you can protect your children from this is by getting the vaccination "We are determined to make a positive come from this."

Sarah-Jane added: "I don't want other people to lose their babies."

* THE Daily Echo today launches a campaign, called Do It For Andrew, to encourage Hampshire parents to get their children vaccinated against swine flu before March 31. .

All children aged between six months and five years are eligible for the jab.

Contact your GP surgery or, if you live in Southampton, ring NHS Southampton City on 023 8029 6904

If you live in Hampshire ring NHS Hampshire on 023 8062 7444.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5060106.Swine_flu_killed_our_little_angel/

[Pathfinder]

Re: The dead children thread

Okla. Reports H1N1 Flu Death

POSTED: 2:29 pm CST March 12, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma leaders reported another death from the flu caused by the H1N1 virus.

State health officials said a young girl from Delaware County died late last month from the virus.

Her death brings the number of fatalities from H1N1 in Oklahoma to 42 since Sept. 1.

http://www.4029tv.com/health/22824729/detail.html

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: The dead children thread

Medics meet to discuss swine flu death
3:20pm Monday 15th March 2010
By Tara Russell ?


TOP medics will meet this week to discuss why a 23-month-old toddler died from swine flu so suddenly in his sleep.

A panel of doctors will meet on Wednesday in Bristol in a bid to find out why Andrew McCall was found dead in his cot on Christmas morning.

His parents, Sarah-Jane and Iain McCall, of Lower Duncan Road, Park Gate, say their son was showing no symptoms when they put him to bed on Christmas Eve when they were staying with family in Portishead, near Bristol.

A post-mortem carried out at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London revealed Andrew died from swine flu with no underlying health issues.

The brave couple found the courage to speak to the Daily Echo to urge other parents in Hampshire to vaccinate their children against the killer virus.

It is a race against time as there are just 13 days for healthy children under five to get protected against swine flu. Health chiefs in Hampshire have urged for all parents to arrange for their children to get the jab before March 31 when the Government withdraws it.

Sarah-Jane, 35, said: ?The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the findings of the medics regarding Andrew?s death, including why he might have died so quickly and quietly but also if there are any lessons to be learnt from his death.

?Our precious baby was taken from us far too quickly and it is absolutely unbearable, but if telling his story can save just one other child?s life we will be happy.?

Dad Iain added: ?We are determined to make a positive come from this. The general portrayal is that swine flu has gone away and it?s not in the public consciousness any more but it is a killer virus and there is still a risk.?

Dr Iain Maclennan, of NHS Hampshire, said he was grateful to the family for encouraging vaccination so they can provide the best protection possible.

He urged parents to arrange for their child to receive the vaccination by the end of March.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/5062258.Why_did_Andrew_die_so_quickly_from_swine_flu_/

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: The dead children thread

AP State

Mobile death blamed on swine flu
The Associated Press Published: Friday, March 19, 2010 at 4:40 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 19, 2010 at 4:40 p.m.

The Mobile County Health Department says the Feb. 27 death of a 6-year-old boy is being attributed to swine flu.

story at; http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/...APN/1003193719

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: The dead children thread

Mississippi child dies of flu
The Clarion-Ledger ? March 19, 2010


Lafayette County child has died of influenza, the state Department of Health reported today.


The Health Department did not give the name or exact age of the victim, but identified the youth as 18 years old or younger.


continues at; http://www.clarionledger.com/article...9021/1001/news

Also see:

http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Flu-claims-life-of-Lafayette-County-child/8oskfpSafEe8KAHrAASTdA.cspx

snip:

According to an agency news release, the child tested positive for Influenza A and had underlying health conditions.

This is the fourth pediatric flu death of the current flu season, which began on August 30.

Those four deaths are among the 26 Influenza-related deaths in Mississippi this season.

[Pathfinder]

Re: The dead children thread

Related to Roro's post #387

6-Year-Old Boy Dies From Swine Flu in Mobile County

Reported by: Mike Rush
Email: mrush@local15tv.com
Last Update: 3/19 6:36 pm


Jacob "Tucker" Dunnam

(MOBILE, Ala) - A 6-year-old child is the fourth confirmed death from swine flu in Mobile County.

LOCAL 15 News has confirmed Jacob "Tucker" Dunnam, who was a straight 'A' student at Pearl Haskew Elementary School, passed away February 27th.

Tucker's mom tells LOCAL 15 News her son had been sick off and on for about a week when he suffered a major heart attack. Subsequent testing has since linked his death to the HINI virus.

Tucker loved fishing, music and playing with the two sisters he leaves behind.

http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/6-Year-Old-Boy-Dies-From-Swine-Flu-in-Mobile/Es8VN4gxfE-qaHhdw9WXSQ.cspx?rss=217

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: The dead children thread

Remembering a brave boy
TEXT SIZE By: FREDA R. SAVANA
Bucks County Courier Times
Warrington

Timmy Raymond was a healthy, active boy when the H1N1 virus, fueled by another infection, cut short his young life.

The Christmas tree is still up in the Raymonds spacious Warrington home. The family had been waiting for Timmy to come home before they took it down. Now, no one really has the strength to do it.

It's been one month since the quiet, 13-year-old boy died; Bucks County's only reported death from swine flu.

He fought the vicious illness with his usual determination and courage for four months. He survived unfathomable procedures, many used for the first time in medical history, and countless attempts to restore his weakened body. The final effort, a lung transplant, made excruciatingly more complicated because his lungs had dissolved into "mush" and attached to his chest cavity, proved more than he could withstand. Although he lived through the 12-hour surgery, he died a short time later.

continues at;

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/28/2010/april/04/remembering-a-brave-boy.html

[alert]

Re: The dead children thread

A 13-year-old boy from Warrington, PA here (same as RoRo's #390):

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=350224&posted=1#post350224

[Shiloh]

Re: The dead children thread

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...2300388ea.html

6-month-old is Dallas County's 27th swine flu death (TX)

05:29 PM CDT on Friday, April 9, 2010

By SHERRY JACOBSON / The Dallas Morning News
sjacobson@dallasnews.com

A 6-month-old, who died last month, became Dallas County's 27th confirmed death related to the H1N1 virus.

County health officials said Friday the infant had an underlying medical condition that increased the risk of severe complications from the swine flu...