Re: Solano Co.: Flu Link Sought In Student's Death
Re: Solano Co.: Flu Link Sought In Student's Death
Source:
http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=69096&catid=2
First Grader's Death Sparks Sadness, H1N1 Fear in Vacaville
Nick Monacelli
Vacaville, CA -- A first grader from Browns Valley Elementary School in Vacaville has died.
Little Alexis was known as a vibrant child, but there is a large question mark surrounding her death; Is the H1N1 virus to blame?
A memorial was set up Tuesday night with balloons reading, "We love you Alexis", "Alexis the soccer star" and a sign from her soccer team The Tigers.
She missed last weekend's game and never returned from a trip to the hospital Sunday night.
Now health officials are working to find out if swine flu took Alexis' life.
"This is just the beginning," said parent Brian Morger, whose daughter played soccer with Alexis. "She'll probably have a lot of stuffed animals and flowers."
"When we got to school this morning, the coach found out, the assistant coach found and everybody broke down," said mother Anna Morger.
Anna and her family started the memorial outside the main doors of Browns Valley Elementary School.
"She's really nice," said first grader Briana, saying goodbye in ways only a little girl can. "She always got the ball, she came in front of everyone and got the ball and stuff."
Inside the elementary school, home of The Bears, the news couldn't come without tears, that one of their youngest cubs was gone.
"When you think about the life and energy and vitality of a six or seven year old and you lose that it's a tragic event," said superintendent John Aycock.
Alexis was taken to Vacavalley Hospital Sunday night. She never made it back home.
As of Tuesday night there is no proof the H1N1 virus was the cause of death, but it hasn't been ruled out.
"Something that happens this sudden, this tragic, it causes people to say and question, 'Why did this happen?" said Aycock.
Aycock has been in close contact with the health department, which said until her autopsy is complete it should be business, or school, as usual.
"Continue to send your children to school," he said. "In my opinion they're probably safer and will get attention faster if they're in school than not in school."
At a soccer practice for the bigger girls, concerns that H1N1 might have caused Alexis' passing were growing; but not without skepticism.
"We don't know what they're exposed to in classrooms or during the games," said parent Mark Ilagan. "We don't know who's infected, but again we don't know if that's H1N1, do we?"
But like the Morger family, parents will deal with test results when they come.
For now their attention is on what their community has lost.
"In my opinion it doesn't seem to matter," said Brian Morger. "A sweet little girl isn't here anymore."
Robin Cox with the Solano County Public Health Department said they are running tests determine the girl's death. The results are expected to be released on Wednesday.
by Nick Monacelli
nmonacelli@news10.net
News10/KXTV
