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8-year-old girl dies of unidentified disease

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Senior Moderator
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?glide=EH-20100212-24908-CAN&cat=dis&lang=eng

The cause of an eight-year-old girl?s sudden death Sunday at the emergency department of Windsor Regional Hospital remains a mystery after a coroner's preliminary report ruled out meningitis. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Allen Heimann and WRH?s chief of staff, Dr. Gary Ing, said Thursday the London coroner investigating the death has found no evidence of meningitis, a potentially deadly infection of the lining around the brain and the spinal cord. The cause of death remains unknown and it could take weeks before it?s determined through further microbiology tests, Ing said. The girl was rushed to WRH?s Met campus by ambulance Sunday morning and died in the ER sometime in the afternoon. Through Facebook memorial groups, she has been identified as Grade 3 Victoria public school student Destiny Sammut. Through the funeral home, her family members have said they are too distraught to speak to The Star. ?At this time, I don?t even want to guess what (the cause of death) could be, to avoid further panic,? Ing said. While the coroner is still investigating, there is nothing to suggest another kind of highly contagious disease, Heimann said. ?Meningococcal meningitis was a particular concern and that?s been ruled out. We?re not looking at any other type of public health intervention with the school or the public.? The hospital initially suspected meningitis played a part in the girl?s death and is doing its own internal investigation in addition to the coroner?s probe ? standard procedure when a child dies suddenly. The girl?s family members and front line staff who treated her at the ER were given antibiotics as a precaution. People who attended the ER Sunday were also being notified to watch for symptoms of meningitis ? severe headache, high fever, vomiting, drowsiness and irritability. The child was first taken to the Met ER Friday and released, before being rushed back Sunday.
 
Re: 8-year-old girl dies of unidentified disease

An earlier article that had suspected meningitis.

http://www.windsorstar.com/news/year+dies+suspected+meningitis/2550040/story.html

8-year-old dies of suspected meningitis
Hospital probes ER death
By Sonja Puzic, The Windsor StarFebruary 11, 2010 Windsor Regional Hospital is investigating the sudden death of an eight-year-old girl in its emergency department Sunday, suspecting meningitis was the cause.

The child died after being rushed to the Met campus ER by ambulance, said Dr. Gary Ing, WRH's chief of staff. The hospital launches an internal investigation whenever someone dies in the hospital unexpectedly, reviewing the circumstances of the death to see whether something could have been done to prevent it or if something can be improved in the future, Ing said.

Citing privacy laws, Ing could not reveal the girl's name or details of her hospital visit. But by Wednesday, two Facebook groups were created in the memory of Destiny Sammut, a Grade 3 student at Victoria public school with long, dark curly hair and a big smile. Her obituary says she's survived by her parents, three brothers, grandparents and many other relatives.

The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, but Ing said the hospital suspects meningitis, a serious inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord that can be fatal within hours if left untreated.

The regional coroner's office in London is also investigating the girl's death.

A coroner's investigation is standard procedure in the sudden death of any child, Ing said.

Because meningitis can spread through close contact, Ing said WRH is contacting an estimated 80 people who were in the ER over a span of 16 hours Sunday, telling them to watch for symptoms of the infection, such as a sudden onset of high fever, severe headache, vomiting, drowsiness and irritability.

So far, no related illnesses have been reported. The hospital has been telling affected people to be on alert for 10 days after the possible exposure.

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit has been involved with the case, but Medical Officer of Health Dr. Allen Heimann said there are no concerns about the spread of meningitis at the girl's school. He said antibiotics were given to the child's family members and ER staff who treated her as a precaution because they were in direct, close contact with her.

Ing said the girl was treated at the Met ER Friday and released Saturday morning before being rushed back to the hospital Sunday morning. He couldn't say what kind of treatment she received.

"I'll be happy to comment further once we have a diagnosis," he said.

"It's a very tragic event when something like this happens. It affects everybody. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family."

The Greater Essex County District School Board said grief councillors visited Victoria public school to talk to students and staff.

Visitations for Destiny Sammut will be held today between 3 and 5 p.m. and 7 and 9 p.m. at Families First funeral home on Dougall Avenue.

The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m.
 
Re: 8-year-old girl dies of unidentified disease

I can't believe no one is suspecting H1N1 yet. That seems to be the most obvious candidate at this point.
 
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