Second Child to Die with Flulike Symptoms
Marija E. Alumbaugh, a second grader at Laurelhurst Elementary school attended class on Monday, but was absent Tuesday and Wednesday. The death is the second in little more than a week involving a Seattle area child with flulike symptoms. Seven-year-old Sarah Horner of Kent died February 5th of heart inflammation, which officials said complications of the flu. She was the first child under the age of 15 to die of flu related ailment in King County since 1999.
"We don't have any evidence of connection between the two cases," said James Apa, spokesperson for Public Health-Seattle & King County. "We know she had a flulike illness, but we don't know the cause of death, which the medical examiner will determine. Laurelhurst Elementary recently reported to the Public that 10 percent of the student body was absent.
At that threshold, the school must notify the local health department. More than 50 King County Schools were reporting more than 10 percent absenteeism by the end of last week.
David Fleming, Public Healths Director said, "parents should be vigilant when children contract the flu. "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." in a release Thursday.
Although health authorities said Laurelhurst is safe, the district will support parents decision to keep their kids home today. The Principal of Laurelhurst Elementary visited each classroom Thursday morning to inform students of the death. Parents are being advised to continue basic precautions such as hand washing and keeping feverish kids at home.
Some kids have experienced higher than normal absenteeism this winter, though it's not all attributed to the flu.
Sources:
The Seattle Times
Published by Lindzi Bel
BS in "Animal Science," Minor in "Animal Husbandry." Published novelist and freelance writer. View profile
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