East Bay Elementary School Child Dies

[wotan]

http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci...831?source=rss

A central Contra Costa Couinty child with the H1N1 swine flu virus has died, the public health director confirmed today.
The elementary school student died Friday, the first such case in the county. A state laboratory test confirmed the virus test results Wednesday but health officials are still investigating whether the death was the result of swine flu, said Wendel Brunner, Contra Costa public health director.
The child also had a secondary bacterial infection.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to this child's family," Brunner said in a statement.
"While we have identified only 90 confirmed or probable cases through testing, we stopped testing most suspected cases several weeks ago, and we know there are at least several times that number of cases now in Contra Costa," he said. "We want to emphasize that there are hundreds of H1N1 cases in the county. The vast majority of these cases have mild or moderate illness, and the patients recover. Tragically, this child did not."
Three people have died in California from the H1N1 infection and at least 20 have died around the country.
The child is the seventh person under the age of 18 to die from a flu-related illness in California this year. The other deaths were associated with the regular seasonal flu virus.
Check this Web site for more on this breaking story.

[HenryN]

Re: East Bay Elementary School Child Dies

Possible swine flu death of 9-year-old reported in Contra Costa

<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By Matthias Gafni
Contra Costa Times
<!--date-->Posted: 06/04/2009 11:27:49 AM PDT
<!--secondary date-->Updated: 06/04/2009 12:07:37 PM PDT



<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; </SCRIPT>

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').styl e.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').styl e.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </SCRIPT>A 9-year-old Concord girl with the H1N1 swine flu virus has died, the coroner's office confirmed today.
The elementary school student died Friday, the first such case in the county. A state laboratory test confirmed the virus test results Wednesday but health officials are still investigating whether the death was the result of swine flu, said Wendel Brunner, Contra Costa public health director.
The child also had a secondary bacterial infection.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to this child's family," Brunner said in a statement.
"While we have identified only 90 confirmed or probable cases through testing, we stopped testing most suspected cases several weeks ago, and we know there are at least several times that number of cases now in Contra Costa," he said. "We want to emphasize that there are hundreds of H1N1 cases in the county. The vast majority of these cases have mild or moderate illness, and the patients recover. Tragically, this child did not."
Three people have died in California from the H1N1 infection and at least 20 have died around the country.
The child is the seventh person under the age of 18 to die from a flu-related illness in California this year. The other deaths were associated with the regular seasonal flu virus.
Reach Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5053 or mgafni@bayareanewsgroup.com.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12519877

[Tonka]

Re: East Bay Elementary School Child Dies

This article says the child was healthy.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12519877?source=most_viewed

Health officials confirm death of 9-year-old with swine flu virus in Contra Costa
By Matthias Gafni
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 06/04/2009 11:27:49 AM PDT
Updated: 06/04/2009 08:02:49 PM PDT



Jun 3:

Three probable cases of swine flu at juvenile hall A 9-year-old Concord girl with the swine flu virus has died, but health officials say most cases of the illness are mild and no special precautions are needed.

Karen Perez, an El Monte Elementary School fourth-grader, died May 29, the first such case in the county. A state laboratory test Wednesday confirmed positive results for the virus, also known as H1N1, but health officials are still investigating whether the death was the result of swine flu, said Wendel Brunner, Contra Costa public health director.

The child also had a secondary bacterial infection.

Dick Nicoll, interim superintendent of the Mt. Diablo school district, said crisis counselors were on campus Thursday to help grieving students

and staff.

Deacon Mariano Preza said the family thought the girl had died of heart failure until her funeral was under way Thursday at St. Bonaventure Church. The mortuary attendant informed one of the child's uncles that the death was being linked to swine flu. The girl's uncle had called the church Saturday to make funeral arrangements for the family, he said.

"They were just inconsolable in their grief," the Rev. Richard Mangini said, adding that the family did not wish to speak to the media.

At the service, Karen was described as a very sweet girl with natural instincts for music and art, Mangini said.

Staff members and parents on campus after school Thursday declined to comment about the girl's death.

Walking in the neighborhood nearby, 14-year-old friends Max Mayo and Michael Solero were surprised and a little frightened by the news. They said they attended El Monte when they were younger and now go to El Dorado Middle School.

"I think it's sad, and I'm a little scared for my two cousins in first grade and kindergarten at El Monte," Michael said.

Max said he worried that the flu could spread to other schools and the community.

The county stopped counting confirmed and probable cases beyond the first 90, but officials think there may be many more cases, most of them mild.

"We want to emphasize that there are hundreds of H1N1 cases in the county. The vast majority of these cases have mild or moderate illness, and the patients recover. Tragically, this child did not," Brunner said.

Karen is the first person in the Bay Area and the first child in the state who died after contracting the virus. Two other Californians with the virus have died; nationwide, at least 20 people with H1N1 have died.

The Concord girl is the seventh person younger than 18 to die from a flu-related illness in California this year. The other deaths were associated with the regular seasonal flu virus.

Many of the swine flu-related deaths reported have involved victims with previous medical conditions. What makes the Concord case unusual, Brunner said, is that Karen was a healthy girl.

"This is rare that a healthy child just dies from the flu, but it's not unheard of. It's a terribly tragic case," he said.

Brunner stressed that no schools would be closed and parents should not be concerned. The child was taken out of school more than seven days ago ? the flu's incubation period ? so no more precautions are necessary at the campus, he said.

Health officials have monitored Contra Costa schools, checking for large numbers of absences and other suspicious trends, Brunner said.

In April and May, several Contra Costa schools were closed after students contracted what officials think may have been the virus. But U.S. health officials last month changed their policy on closing schools with swine flu cases.

"The schools in Contra Costa will remain open," Joseph Ovick, Contra Costa superintendent of schools, said at a news conference Thursday.

Contra Costa has recorded 90 probable cases, with 66 confirmed by the state, topping Bay Area counties, Brunner said.

"We really estimate there are several times that number of cases throughout Contra Costa County. In the hundreds," Brunner said. "The vast majority are mild or moderate; tragically, this child's case was not."

The public health director said it was unclear why Contra Costa has higher rates, but more intense screening and testing efforts could contribute. He also defended the county's initial heavy-handed response to the virus.

Health officials have not determined how Karen contracted the disease or if she had visited Mexico recently. Her family members have not tested positive for the virus, Brunner said.

The official cause of death is pending pathology and toxicology tests, coroner's Sgt. Bryan Reynolds said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 100,000 people nationwide have been infected with the virus, with two-thirds ages 5 to 24.

At least 20 deaths have been reported nationwide. Federal officials estimate that each year 50 to 100 children die from seasonal flu.

[HenryN]

Re: East Bay Elementary School Child Dies

This article says the child was healthy.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12519877?source=most_viewed

Health officials have monitored Contra Costa schools, checking for large numbers of absences and other suspicious trends, Brunner said.

In April and May, several Contra Costa schools were closed after students contracted what officials think may have been the virus. But U.S. health officials last month changed their policy on closing schools with swine flu cases.

"The schools in Contra Costa will remain open," Joseph Ovick, Contra Costa superintendent of schools, said at a news conference Thursday.

Contra Costa has recorded 90 probable cases, with 66 confirmed by the state, topping Bay Area counties, Brunner said.

"We really estimate there are several times that number of cases throughout Contra Costa County. In the hundreds," Brunner said. "The vast majority are mild or moderate; tragically, this child's case was not."

The public health director said it was unclear why Contra Costa has higher rates, but more intense screening and testing efforts could contribute. He also defended the county's initial heavy-handed response to the virus.

Health officials have not determined how Karen contracted the disease or if she had visited Mexico recently. Her family members have not tested positive for the virus, Brunner said.

Reality check. There is a higher concentration of people infected with H1N1 in Contra Costa than Mexico.