Wisconsin Reports 5th Death

[JimO]

Source: http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/50781827.html

Wisconsin Reports Fifth Swine Flu Death

Posted: 3:40 PM Jul 14, 2009
Last Updated: 3:40 PM Jul 14, 2009
Reporter: Associated Press

Milwaukee adolescent has become the fifth person to die of swine flu in Wisconsin.

The city's health department said Tuesday the victim was an adolescent who had a common underlying medical condition.

So far, two adults and one adolescent in Milwaukee have died from the virus as well as a 12-year-old Wausau girl.

The most recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control show Wisconsin has more than 6,000 cases -- the most in the nation.

State officials have attributed the high number to an aggressive testing policy early in the outbreak and the state having four laboratories to do the work.

Research by a University of Wisconsin flu expert released Monday shows the swine flu virus is more severe than ordinary winter flu.

 

[thebes]

Re: Wisconsin Reports 5th Death

http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/50796812.html

Girl, 13, dies of swine flu in city's fourth death from virus
By Mark Johnson of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: July 14, 2009 6:04 p.m.

Milwaukee, which has some of the highest swine flu numbers in the nation, reported its fourth death, a 13-year-old girl with asthma who was sick for more than a month before dying Sunday night at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

City officials did not announce the latest swine flu death until Tuesday, and only described the victim as an adolescent with an underlying medical condition. Information about her case and her name, Gisela Alanis, were found on a Medical Examiner's report. According to the report, she was admitted to the hospital emergency room on May 27, semi-conscious and in respiratory distress. She later developed fevers and on Sunday her blood pressure dropped before she died.

In announcing the latest flu death, the fifth in the state, city Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker said that Milwaukee is preparing for the possibility of mass vaccinations in the fall when school starts.

"We will be faced with the awesome responsibility of a mass vaccination," Baker said. "This is a major undertaking the likes of which has not been seen by many who are alive today."

The national vaccination effort this fall could be the largest ever conducted in the U.S., Baker said.

Although Milwaukee has vaccination plans, the city must wait for the federal government to determine how much vaccine will be available and what vulnerable groups will have priority in receiving doses, Baker said.

Conditions that place people at greater risk for complications from influenza include: pregnancy; diabetes; lung problems including asthma and emphysema; certain heart conditions; diseases or medications that weaken the immune system; kidney diseases; and children on chronic aspirin treatment. Also people under age 5 and 65 or older are considered at greater risk.

According to the most recent figures, Wisconsin has 6,037 confirmed and probable swine flu cases; Milwaukee has 3,268. By itself, Milwaukee has reported about 700 more flu cases than the entire state of California. Baker did say that the city's case counts have been declining, though he added, "we're also expecting the numbers to ramp back up in the fall."

State and local health officials have taken pains to point out that the high numbers here might be the result of more aggressive flu surveillance and more efficient testing in Wisconsin. However, there have also been suggestions that for reasons unknown Milwaukee may have simply had more H1N1 virus in its midst.

The Harvard University School of Public Health has been working with city health officials to study the magnitude and spread of the disease in Milwaukee.

"We've had three site visits by Harvard researchers. The last just concluded last week," Baker said.

Baker said researchers are going to be comparing observations from Milwaukee and other cities and should have some insight into the outbreak within the next month.

 

[Chuck]

Re: Wisconsin Reports 5th Death

http://www.wisn.com/health/20065212/detail.html

Classmates Honor H1N1 Flu Virus Victim
Gisela Alanis Funeral To Be Held Friday

POSTED: 4:17 pm CDT July 15, 2009
UPDATED: 4:48 pm CDT July 15, 2009

Gisela Alanis, 13, died Saturday at Children's Hospital. Alanis had just graduated from Notre Dame Middle School as an eighth-grader.

Alanis wasn't the only student from the school to get sick, but so far she is the only one to succumb to the flu virus.

"Gisela was always the one with the big smile on her face, even if she was sad she would always have a smile on her face," classmate Yesenia Villarreal said.

The Health Department confirmed that Alanis' death was the fifth fatality from the virus in Wisconsin.

On Wednesday, her eighth-grade classmates held a bake sale to help her family cover the funeral costs. The funeral will be held Friday in the chapel at the school.

"They were very concerned and just, they couldn't understand why it would happen to someone so young," said Principal Sister Jean Ellman.

It is her spirit Alanis' friends said that's helping them get through the shock of her death.

Alanis got sick in May, as did some other kids at the school.

"I was with her since pre-school until eighth grade," classmate Sandra Mejia said.

All the other kids got well and came back. She did not.

"[She] made everyone laugh, no matter what, she always knew how to bring someone's spirit up," Villarreal said.

"We did talk about how we believe that death is not the end of life, and we believe in the resurrection, and so I tried to explain that to the girls and to the staff, and explain to them that although it's very hard for us to be here and to lose Gisela, she's fine, she's enjoying eternal life, and that's what our life is about," Ellman said.

Just two days ago, researchers at the University of Wisconsin said that the H1N1 virus is more severe than ordinary winter flu, and that it is more dangerous than originally suspected.

 

[thebes]

Re: Wisconsin Reports 5th Death

Family Didn't Know Girl Had Swine Flu
By Elizabeth Braun, Shelley Walcott
Story Created: Jul 15, 2009

Story Updated: Jul 15, 2009

MILWAUKEE - The family of a 13-year-old girl who died of swine flu says they had no idea the girl had the virus.

Gisela Alanis died at Children's Hospital Sunday night. Her family says they only found out after they were contacted by reporters.

When it comes to swine flu, pediatrician Dr. Kristin Bencik-Boudreau says the family is usually notified right away. "Usually if we get a positive swine flu the lab calls the physician immediately and we immediately call the family and let them know."

But a member of Alanis' family says they were shocked to hear how sick the little girl really was. They say no one told them she had swine flu.

In addition, they say Gisela suffered from asthma, a condition that would have made her even more susceptible to H1N1.

"Kids with asthma already have underlying issues with their respiratory symptoms. So that sets them up for a bad asthma attack, and for further pneumonia and respiratory distress and possibly death," says Dr. Bencik-Boudreau.

Is it possible the girl may not have been tested for swine flu? She was treated at Children's Hospital, but the health department says less people are being tested for the illness because it has become so prevalent.

Dr. Bencik-Boudreau says parents should not take symptoms for granted.

"If your child starts running a high fever, has a cough and a sore throat and has asthma you should take them to their doctor."

Children's Hospital has not been able to be reached for comment on the family's allegations. The family says they're contacting an attorney.

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