KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - The heartbreaking death of a Seattle child occurred Wednesday and early reports indicate the eight-year-old girl had symptoms of a flu-like illness at the time of death. There have been no confirmatory tests that prove flu was the cause, but Public Health officials are working to learn more. Earlier this month a child in Kent died from complications of the flu.
“This is a tragic occurrence and I send my deepest condolences to the family,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County. “Regardless of what our investigation reveals about the cause of death, serious and life-threatening complications of the flu can happen to previously healthy children. Thankfully, these deaths are a rare occurrence.”
The King County Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of death. Public Health continues to monitor influenza activity in the community and is in close contact with the school district.
This year to date the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported nine flu deaths in children. In the 2005/2006 flu season, 41 pediatric deaths were reported to the CDC and 153 pediatric deaths were reported in 2003/2004.
“Overall, our influenza monitoring suggests that the severity of illness among most children and adults is not unusual for the flu," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Chief of the Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology and Immunization Section at Public Health - Seattle & King County. “In Washington and nationally, we are not seeing reports of unusually high numbers of influenza cases or deaths.”
Public Health’s monitoring system indicates that flu has increased significantly since the first week in February, and reports of people with the flu are above recent flu seasons but still within expected levels. Complete information about the flu season will not be known until the season is over, usually in March or April.
Complications from the flu kills thousands of people each year in the United States, but it is unusual for flu to cause death in healthy children. The majority of those who die from the flu are people over 65, babies, and people with chronic illnesses.
The best way to prevent the flu is to be vaccinated and vaccine is widely available now in the community. Public Health advises that all members of the community consider getting a flu vaccine if they want to avoid the flu. In addition, Public Health recommends frequent hand washing, staying home from work and school when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or tissue.
If you have symptoms of the flu, contact your health care provider. Symptoms include fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, and aching of the head, back, arms, legs.
For more information visit www.metrokc.gov/health/immunization/fluseason.htm
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. |
