In Volusia County, 15-year-old dies with swine flu

PHOTO BY GREG SYKES COURTESY CDC
Handle with caution — A lab worker handles test kits used to detect the H1N1 or swine-flu virus. The fourth swine-flu-related death just occurred in Volusia County.

It's the fourth swine-flu-related death in Volusia County

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Oct 7, 2009 - 3:52:10pm

The Volusia County Health Department announced Oct. 7 the swine-flu-related death of a 15-year-old in the county.

The student, a male, attended New Smyrna Beach High School. His name has not been released.

Volusia County Schools spokeswoman Nancy Wait said the young man was a special-needs student. He had been absent from school for the past three weeks.

"We didn't get the diagnosis until much later," Wait said.

“On behalf of our entire school family, we express sincere condolences to the family,” said Dr. Margaret Smith, superintendent of the Volusia County School District. “Our hearts go out to them during this difficult time.”

Health Department spokeswoman Stefany Strong spoke similar sentiments.

"Our hearts go out, as well, to the family," she said.

Strong said the death is the fourth confirmed death in Volusia County related to H1N1 or swine flu.

Like other swine-flu victims, the young man had underlying medical complications that placed him at higher risk from swine flu. Most cases are relatively mild.

The last swine-flu-related death in Volusia County was of a middle-aged man who died at Florida Hospital-DeLand in June.

Measures to contain spread of the virus are the same as for seasonal flu: Wash your hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth when sneezing, stay home from work or school until you've been fever-free for 24 hours if you contract the illness, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Contact your physician if you suspect swine flu.

H1N1 nasal sprays and the injectable vaccines are expected to start arriving in Volusia County within the next couple of weeks. Vaccine arrivals are scheduled to continue weekly throughout October, November, and December.

"We are working very closely with the school district to provide school clinics to the students on Saturdays in November," Strong said. DeLand High School will be one of the clinic sites. More details will be available later.

People should also check with their private doctors regarding the availability of the vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends priority groups receive the vaccine first. They are:

• Pregnant women

• People caring for infants younger than 6 months

• Health-care and emergency medical services responders

• People ages 6 months to 24 years

• People ages 25-64 with health conditions leading to a higher risk of complications from the flu.

For more information about the H1N1 swine flu or seasonal influenza, visit www.volusiahealth.com or call the Florida Flu Information Line at 1-877-352-3581.

— pat@beacononlinenewscom

Reader Comments

The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.

Comment on this article

Commenting is closed for this article.

If you would like to contribute a letter to the editor, please click here.

Did you find this story interesting or informative? Subscribe to The DeLand-Deltona Beacon to read more stories by Pat Hatfield, along with others from our award-winning writers. Subscribe now!