Tyler TX: Jack Elementary School Student Dies From H1N1

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Jack Elementary School Student Dies From H1N1
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Letter sent home with Jack Elementary students today (.pdf)

A student at Jack Elementary has passed away due to an influenza-associated death, according to Angela Jenkins, director of communications for Tyler ISD.

The district received confirmation of the H1N1-related death this afternoon, she said in a press release. A copy of the letter sent home to Jack Elementary parents today can be read by clicking on the "related links" box on this page.

The district plans to send a letter home to all other district students tomorrow, Mrs. Jenkins said.

 

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Re: Tyler TX: Jack Elementary School Student Dies From H1N1

Source: http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11226490

9-year-old dies, 90-percent chance had H1N1
Posted: Sep 29, 2009 4:36 PM EST Updated: Sep 29, 2009 4:49 PM EST
Top 5 News Stories

Posted by Ellen Krafve - bio | email

EAST TEXAS (KLTV) - Tuesday, we learned an East Texas child died at a Dallas hospital in the last 24 hours. He was a 9-year-old boy who went to Jack Elementary in Tyler.

Doctors are not confirming the boy had the H1N1 flu virus, but a doctor with the health district told us there is a 90% chance the child had H1N1. They did confirm it is a pediatric flu related death, and that the child had other underlying diseases.

"This particular child did have some other co-morbidities which means the child had some other illnesses and put the child in a higher risk category," explained Dr. Jonathan MacClements, a Smith County Health Authority. "We are aware children with asthma or chronic illnesses are at higher risks for getting H1N1 complications."

On Thursday at 6:30pm in the Jack Elementary Cafetoriam, there will be a meeting where parents can ask question to health and Tyler ISD officials.

We've also learned an outbreak of the flu forced a couple of east Texas school districts to cancel classes. Twenty-four percent of students at Newton ISD stayed home Monday because of flu-like symptoms. Newton is in southeast Texas, close to the Louisiana border. The district reopens again on Friday. In the northern communities of Poynor and Larue, the La Poynor School District canceled classes for the rest of the week, because of students missing with flu like symptoms.

The following is the letter sent to parents from Jack Elementary School Principal Shauna Hittle:

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Tyler ISD is sad to report that a student at Jack Elementary has passed away due to an influenza associated death. Our thought and prayers are with the family as they go through this difficult time.

The child had underlying medical conditions and significant respiratory issues. The case has been confirmed as H1N1. We are working with local and state health officials to monitor the situation, and at this time, schools will remain open and operating normally.

The best way to reduce the spread of H1N1 or any other virus is to practice good hygiene, and we encourage you to teach your children to wash their hands often, keep their hands away from their eyes, nose, and mouth, and cover coughs and sneezes with their sleeve or a tissue. For more prevention tips, visit www.texasflu.org or www.tylerisd.org

Please keep your child home from school if he or she shows any flu symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue, and contact your health care provider and the school immediately.

Students who are ill should stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.

Let me assure you that the health and well being of our students is my top priority, and we are doing everything possible to address the situation. As a precaution, since the start of school, Tyler ISD has implemented aggressive sanitation measures at all campuses. District staff members are frequently disinfecting common areas, such as hallways, lockers, door knobs, and hand rails with a germicidal. As another precaution, Tyler ISD is also using this same germicidal spray to disinfect the interior of the school buses on a daily basis.

We are inviting our parents to an informational meeting with representatives from the District and the Northeast Texas Public Health District Thursday, October 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Jack Elementary Cafetorium.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Shauna Hittle
Principal

 

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Re: Tyler TX: Jack Elementary School Student Dies From H1N1

Source: http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11235308

Possible H1N1 death hits home for East Texas family
Posted: Sep 30, 2009 5:57 PM EST Updated: Sep 30, 2009 5:57 PM EST
By Sara Story - bio | email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - bio | email

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Doctors say it could be a long time before we know if an East Texas child's death was caused by the H1N1 virus. But, they're certainly leaning in that direction. 9-year-old Montrell Harris died Tuesday at a Dallas hospital, after testing positive for flu. Harris, who was a student at Jack Elementary in Tyler, also suffered from severe respiratory conditions.

"He run and played with everyone else," said . "It was hard for us to keep up with him. It got him this time."

His family describes him as a boy who was full of energy. But, Montrell Harris's life was cut short by what health officials say was a flu-related death.

"He's gonna be real missed," said . "Not just from me but from his cousins, aunt, uncles, everybody."

Stephanie Taylor with the Northeast Texas Public Health District says it may take weeks to confirm whether H1N1 is to blame. But, the virus is attacking kids right around Montrell's age.

"It's dramatically shifting to a younger population," said .

Another group of H1N1 targets are the medically fragile. And, the child's family says he battled chronic asthma since he was a baby.

"He didn't let asthma get him down," said . "That was one of his problems. He wouldn't sit still."

Tyler ISD says Jack Elementary will remain open, and aggressive sanitary measures are being taken.

"We have been taking a pro-active approach since the start of school year," said . "We want to reassure parents we will continue with those practices of sanitizing our campuses and school buses."

And, health officials say it's important parents don't panic, but remember the flu virus is everywhere, not just in schools.

"It's at the grocery stores, it's at your churches, it's everywhere, [at] football games," said .

From personal experience, this aunt says monitor your children closely.

"If your child is sick, don't wait 'till the next day or two days later...get them to the hospital!" said .

The child's family is in need of money to help fund his funeral. If you would like to donate, a memorial fund for Montrell Harris has been set up at Texas Bank and Trust in Tyler. Tyler ISD sent a letter home to parents Wednesday afternoon to better inform them of the death and what the district is doing in response. The letter also urges parents to teach children the importance of washing hands and practicing good hygiene.