Announcement

**morningperson** · August 31, 2009, 05:08 PM

Child Dies of Presumed Swine Flu

Child dies of presumed swine flu
Posted: Aug 31, 2009 3:07 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 31, 2009 4:57 PM CDT

SCOTTSBORO, AL (WAFF) - Officials in Jackson County say testing will be done after a 12-year-old child died this morning of influenza at Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro.

The testing is being done to determine if the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu, was a factor in the child's death. The Alabama Department of Public Health said it's presumed that the H1N1 virus is the likely cause of death because of its prevalence in the state.

WAFF 48 News was told the child's family is also following through with an autopsy.

If confirmed, this would be the third known death in the state due to the H1N1 virus.

http://www.waff.com/global/story.asp?s=11021065

**wdcare** · August 31, 2009, 06:56 PM

Re: Child dies of illness; cause of death being determined

Scottsboro is in Jackson County in North Alabama.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/08/...flu_in_de.html

State suspects swine flu in death of Scottboro boy
August 31, 2009 5:57 PM

SCOTTSBORO, AL - State health officials said an 11-year-old Scottsboro boy who died Monday morning was apparently the state's third fatality from swine flu.

"It is presumed that novel H1N1 influenza is the likely cause of death because of its prevalence in Alabama," said Jim McVay, director of health promotions and chronic diseases at the Department of Health. State health officials said tests show 99 percent of all Alabama flu cases are caused by the H1N1 virus.

McVay said he spoke to doctors who treated the child and understood the boy was suffering from influenza.

"Of course, the most prevalent influenza now is H1N1, but we can't confirm that until we get a specimen to run a test on," he said. "This would be the third known death in the state from novel H1N1 influenza."

Jackson County Coroner John David Jordan declined to name the child, but said the boy was taken to a local doctor's office Sunday and again Monday. He said the child was transferred to Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro after he collapsed at the doctor's office. Scottsboro Police spokesman Scott Matthews said the boy was a student at Collins Middle School.

**morningperson** · September 1, 2009, 08:57 AM

BREAKING NEWS: Scottsboro boy dies of illness

http://www.thedailysentinel.com/stor...2073919bf83acf

BREAKING NEWS: Scottsboro boy dies of illness

By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel

Published August 31, 2009

A Scottsboro Elementary School Student died Monday morning at Highlands Medical Center of undetermined causes.

Reports indicate the 12-year old boy, Alex Garcia, died while being treated for a flu-like viral illness, possibly Novel H1N1 (swine flu). The boy was a student at Collins Elementary School. At least several other children who attend the school for fifth and sixth graders are reportedly suffering from similar symptoms.Scottsboro Funeral Home confirmed late Monday afternoon that it would be handling funeral arrangements for Garcia.

The Alabama Department of Public Health issued a statement at 4:45 p.m. confirming that it had has been informed of the situation.

The statement said, ?The Alabama Department of Public Health has been informed that a school-age child from Jackson County has died from influenza. It is presumed that novel H1N1 influenza is the likely cause of death because of its prevalence in Alabama. This would be the third known death in the state from novel H1N1 influenza.

?This death serves as reminder of the need for everyone to take additional precautions because of the early onset of influenza in Alabama.?

Attempts to reach Scottsboro Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Judy Berry by phone seeking additional information went unreturned Monday afternoon.

The Center for Disease Control?s new guidance issued recently did not recommend closing schools in the event of H1N1. The federal agency said that, ?persons with influenza-like symptoms should remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are fever free (100 F) or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medications.?

CDC said their guidelines apply to schools, businesses, mass gatherings, camps and other community settings where the majority of people are not at increased risk for influenza complications.

Highlands Medical Center issued a brief statement shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday stating that it could not comment in detail on the situation.

?Under guidelines related to the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Highlands Medical Center and all hospitals are prohibited from commenting about specific patients and the nature of their injuries or illnesses,? Highlands spokesperson Bryant Pitchford said.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects the privacy of individually identifiable health information. Its confidentiality provisions protect the patient while being used to analyze patient safety events and improve patient safety. The Office of Civil Rights enforces the act.

Jackson County Coroner John David Jordan confirmed that the boy died at Highlands Medical Center sometime before noon. He said his office was contacted because it is required to review child death cases.

?Highlands Medical Center and the Jackson County Health Department are following up,? Jordan said. ?They are investigating the case.?

Jordan could not confirm that the youth died of H1N1. He said that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health would receive the appropriate information in the case and would make the final determination after appropriate testing.

?The Alabama Department of Public Health would be the ones to follow those type cases,? Pitchford said.

The family, according to sources, has requested a private autopsy.

**Shiloh** · September 1, 2009, 05:52 PM

Re: Child dies of illness; cause of death being determined

Source: http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=11029662

11-year-old probable swine flu victim remembered by family
Posted: Sep 01, 2009 5:14 PM EST Updated: Sep 01, 2009 5:14 PM EST

By Barbara Czura - email
Posted by Dana Franks - email

SCOTTSBORO, AL (WAFF) - Alex Garcia, 11, died Monday at Highlands Medical Center. Now the Alabama Department of Health is treating his death as a swine flu-related death, and doctors are trying to determine how he became so sick so fast.

On Monday morning, Alex sat in a hospital bed at the hospital in Scottsboro. His family doctor sent him there after he became ill with flu-like symptoms. A few hours later, Garcia died from his illness.

As the state health department begins tests to try and find the cause of Alex's death, friends and family want to remember the young child's life. Alex's father, Glenn Garcia, talked to WAFF 48 News by phone Tuesday, saying how his son loved to play soccer.

Alex was a sixth grader at Collins Elementary School and was a straight-A student. Scottsboro City School Superintendent Dr. Judy Berry said the whole community is mourning the loss of the young child's life.

"This is a tragedy," Berry said. "This is a tragedy to me, because I lost a student. It's a tragedy. I can't imagine what the family is going through right now. Family friends, this whole community is suffering. We're just trying to get through this terrible time for us".

Berry said there were a large number of absences at Scottsboro schools Tuesday. Some students were grieving, while others were scared of catching the H1N1 virus.

But Berry said nothing has been confirmed yet, and the school system is doing all they can to keep all children safe.

"My thoughts and prayers, are not only on the safety of the children we have," she said. "But my thoughts and prayers and heart go out to the family and the friends of our student. This is a great loss for us."

**Chuck** · September 2, 2009, 03:59 PM

Re: Child dies of illness; cause of death being determined

http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=11035936

Child's cause of death confirmed as H1N1 virus
Posted: Sep 02, 2009 3:21 PM CDT Updated: Sep 02, 2009 3:21 PM CDT

SCOTTSBORO, AL (WAFF) - WAFF 48 News has confirmed with Dr. Jim McVay of the Alabama Department of Public Health that 11-year-old Alex Garcia that died earlier this week tested positive for swine flu.

Alex died Monday morning at Highlands Medical Center after being hospitalized over the weekend.

He attended Collins Elementary School in Scoottsboro, and played several sports including basketball and soccer.

**Pathfinder** · September 2, 2009, 07:25 PM

Re: Child's Cause of Death Confirmed as Swine Flu

Alabama confirms third H1N1 death

Posted by Jeremy Gray --

Birmingham News September 02, 2009 4:01 PM
Categories: Breaking News

The Alabama Department of Public Health today confirmed that a Scottsboro child died of the new H1N1 influenza.

The Huntsville Times today reported that Alex Garcia, 11, became severely ill over the weekend and died Monday at Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro.

Garcia is the third person, and second child, to die of the illness, said Dr. Jim McVay of the state health department. The first child, an infant younger than 2, died of the disease about three weeks ago in Montgomery, McVay said.

Judy Smith, an administrator of public health with the department, said today she did not know of any other health problem that could have contributed to Garcia's death.

Jackson County Coroner John Jordan said Garcia's family has requested an autopsy. That will be performed by a private pathologist, Jordan said.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/09/...d_novel_h.html

**Pathfinder** · September 2, 2009, 07:56 PM

Re: Child's Cause of Death Confirmed as Swine Flu

This is what is alarming here:

"became severely ill over the weekend and died Monday"

"she did not know of any other health problem that could have contributed to Garcia's death."

**morningperson** · September 2, 2009, 08:35 PM

Re: Child's Cause of Death Confirmed as Swine Flu

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletim...920.xml&coll=1

The Huntsville Times
Alex 'had so much energy': Soccer player, 11, played great game before falling ill
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
By David Brewer
Times Staff Writer david.brewer@htimes.com

SCOTTSBORO - Eleven-year-old Alex Garcia of Scottsboro led his soccer team to an 8-1 win Saturday in Huntsville. But Alex, recalled by his family as a "nonstop" youngster who was a tough competitor on the soccer field, grew gravely ill over the weekend and died Monday morning.

State health officials said they suspect swine flu was the cause of his death, but they did not announce any test results for the novel H1N1 virus Tuesday. It was not immediately known if Alex had an underlying medical condition that might have contributed to the severity of his illness.

----------------------------------

He played soccer on Saturday...

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Child's Cause of Death Confirmed as Swine Flu

Child's Cause of Death Confirmed as Swine Flu

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