10 yr old dies of flu-like illness in Jefferson County

[Emily]

Some fundraising sites are reporting that this was a death from a rare type of flu, but official reports don't confirm this, though the fast moving illness is described as flu-like.

Flu activity in the state reported as low on 12/31 and this article also mentions Randy's death:
http://www.journal-news.net/page/co...-It-s-not-too-late-for-flu-shot.html?nav=5006

December 31, 2013
By Jenni Vincent , journal-news.net
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MARTINSBURG - County, state and federal statistics show the flu season is off to a slow start in West Virginia, according to the latest data that's been compiled detailing information ranging from the number of active cases to the strains being reported by physicians.
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Berkeley County Health Department nursing supervisor Angie Gray, who helped conduct a flu-shot clinic Monday afternoon, said it is possible for an otherwise healthy child to develop complications from the flu and die.

Health officials are currently seeing an increase of influenza B...
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In Jefferson County, community fundraising efforts are still underway for a local youth who reportedly died after being hospitalized with flu-like symptoms.

Funeral services will be held today for 10-year-old Randy Ridgeway, a Blue Ridge Elementary School student, who died Dec. 23.

Emily Sensel, a nurse with the Jefferson County Health Department who handles the agency's disease reporting, said Monday that she'd received verification of Randy's death but the report did not list a specific cause of death.

It is not yet clear if state health officials will seek or provide additional information in this case, Sensel said...

I haven't seen any reports of ill family members but, sadly, Randy's father passed away a little over a year ago, (of cancer according to a family report).