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Recent reports of severe and fatal cases at Children's Hospital in Memphis have caused concerns.

A 12-year-old has died of complications from the H1N1 flu, officials at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center said Wednesday.

"Le Bonheur Children's confirms the death of a 12-year-old male resulting from complications of H1N1," a hospital spokesperson said in a written statement. "This is the fifth H1N1 death at Le Bonheur since we began tracking in September 2009."

It is the second time this week the hospital has announced a death from the virus. Le Bonheur confirmed the death of a 14-year-old patient from the virus Monday.

In a news conference Tuesday, Dr. Keith English, one of Le Bonheur's leading pediatricians, said there is no reason to be alarmed, but he does not want people to think the H1N1 threat is over.

English said the number of new cases of the H1N1 flu has spiked in recent weeks, but is still well below the peak Le Bonheur saw in September and October of last year.

"We're very concerned about this," English said. "The thing we'd like to stress is that people shouldn't be complacent because there's less flu activity now than in September. It's still very important to immunize your children."

Dr. English estimated that only 25 percent of those eligible for an H1N1 vaccination have actually gotten one.

He urged parents to monitor their children for flu-like symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea.

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11888357

A 12-year-old Memphis boy has died of complications from the H1N1 swine-flu virus, local health officials confirmed this morning.

The death was the second from swine flu reported in recent days at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, the other being a 14-year-old DeSoto County girl. Since August, there have been five probable or confirmed H1N1 deaths at Le Bonheur and seven throughout Shelby County.

Citing federal privacy laws, hospital officials declined to release the latest victim’s name or any other details.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... lications/

A recent uptick in the number of serious swine flu cases -- including one that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old DeSoto County girl -- has prompted local health officials to renew their calls for residents to get vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.

Although the total number of swine flu cases remains low compared to levels in early fall, the percentage of flu victims requiring intensive-care treatment has risen substantially, said Dr. Keith English, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center.

Seven of the 18 patients (39 percent) who have been admitted to Le Bonheur so far this month for likely H1N1 infection have wound up in ICU. Previously, fewer than 14 percent of the flu patients had been needing intensive care.

Le Bonheur officials this week confirmed that the 14-year-old DeSoto girl died from H1N1 complications. Hospital spokeswoman Anne Glankler, citing privacy regulations, said the victim's name and other details would not be made public.

The girl was a student in the DeSoto County school system. But Patsy Davis, a nurse with the system, said the family requested that no information about her be released.

The girl was the fourth child to die with swine flu at Le Bonheur since August.

English, who also is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, said the recent cases underscore the need for residents to receive the vaccine. Although the spread of H1N1 tapered off after surging in August and September, he said, "we might be seeing the start of another wave" of infections.

The vaccine is available for free at Health Department clinics throughout Shelby County. Free immunizations also are being provided at Walmart stores in Memphis and across the county through the end of February.

Dr. Helen Morrow, chief medical officer with the Health Department, said that although it's the time of year when the seasonal flu usually becomes prevalent, "H1N1 still seems to be the predominant strain that's circulating out there."

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/20 ... flu-virus/

A spokesperson at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center said a 14-year-old Mid- South girl has died from complications associated with the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu.

Due to privacy reasons, the name of the student and her address were not released.

"I can confirm we did have a 14-year-old female who died from complications associated with the H1N1 virus," Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center spokesperson Jennilyn Utkov said Monday afternoon.

Relatives of the child expressed their wish to DeSoto County School District officials that they make no public comment on the child's death, DeSoto County Community Relations Coordinator Katherine Nelson said Monday from Jackson.

The school district was reluctant to confirm that the student was enrolled in the DeSoto County School system or that the student died as a direct result of contracting the H1N1 virus.

DeSoto County Superintendent of Education Milton Kuykendall said the school district has urged the public to take advantage of swine flu vaccinations when possible.

"DeSoto County Schools are working with the health departments," Kuykendall said.

http://www.desototimes.com/articles/201 ... 878333.txt

According to the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, a 12-year-old child has died as a result of the H1N1 influenza.

The child, who is a Memphis resident, died at a local hospital. Given this, public health officials are concerned regarding the spread of the virus in Shelby County and are asking residents to get vaccinated immediately.

Helen Morrow, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, announced that this is the seventh known influenza-associated death in Shelby County. This comes on the heels of another death announced yesterday of a DeSoto County teenager who died last week.

“At this particular difficult time, we want to convey our condolences to the family of this child,” Morrow said. “This death is a somber reminder of the disproportionate impact that H1N1 has on young individuals.”

It is also a reminder that the pandemic is not behind us, added Yvonne Madlock, Director of the Health Department. Last month, the World Health Organization announced that the H1N1 flu pandemic may continue until 2011, which signals that the H1N1 virus has the potential to re-emerge this winter as a stronger strain. Therefore, the public needs to remain vigilant and get the vaccine.

“We have an ample supply of vaccine and we want everyone in our community to be protected. Since vaccine arrived at the Health Department in October, we have been encouraging our most vulnerable citizens and our entire population to receive the vaccine and that continues to be our message. Get vaccinated. It is the only sure way to protect yourself against this virus,” Madlock said.

Morrow agrees: “Given that the H1N1 virus is the predominant flu strain circulating, we will continue to remind our citizens that vaccine can protect against this H1N1 flu. We will continue to beat this drum until everyone understands the importance of this.”

In particular, Madlock and Morrow emphasized that children under the age of 10 still require two doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine in order to be fully immunized against the virus.

“It is especially important that children younger than 10 years old who have only received one dose of vaccine thus far, receive a second dose,” Morrow added.

According to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all children between the ages of six months and nine years need two doses of H1N1 vaccine in order to be fully protected against the virus. These doses should be spaced at least four weeks apart.

For additional protection, Morrow also recommended the use of basic preventive methods including washing hands frequently or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding close contact with those who are sick. If you are ill, stay home until you are well.

In addition, the Health Department is spearheading vaccinations at a number of area schools within Memphis City Schools, Shelby County Schools, and parochial and independent school systems. For parents who want children to receive the vaccine at the school where they are enrolled, the Health Department strongly encourages those parents to return consent forms that have been distributed by the school.

In addition, the Health Department is offering the vaccine free of charge to anyone at the following Health Department-operated public health clinics:

• Collierville Clinic, 167 Washington. Clinic Hours: 8-11 a.m. & 12:30-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Phone: 901.854.6775.
• Galloway Clinic, 477 N. Manassas. Clinic Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Phone: 901.522.8268.
• Hickory Hill Clinic, 6590 Kirby Center Cove. Clinic Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday & on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Phone: 901.365.1045.
• Immunization Clinic, 814 Jefferson. Clinic Hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Phone: 901.544.7711.
• Millington Clinic, 8225 Highway 51. Clinic Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Phone: 901.873.4433.
• Raleigh Clinic, 3040 Covington Pike. Clinic Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Phone: 901.386.2060.
• Shelby Crossing Clinic, 6170 Macon Road. Clinic Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. Phone: 901.372.7581.
• Southland Mall Clinic, 1278 Southland Mall, Shelby Drive/Highway 51. Clinic Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday & on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2nd and 4th Mondays from 5-6:30 p.m. Phone: 901.346.0081.
• Department of Human Services, 3230 Jackson. Clinic Hours: 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays only. Phone: 901.320.7471.

The Health Department is also offering the vaccine at the following Walmart stores at no charge from 1-8 p.m. daily through Sunday, February 28:

•Walmart Supercenter located at 8400 Highway 64 in Bartlett.
•Walmart Supercenter located at 560 West Poplar Avenue in Collierville.
•Walmart Supercenter located at 577 North Germantown Parkway in Cordova.
•Walmart Supercenter located at 5255 Elvis Presley Blvd in Memphis.
•Neighborhood Walmart Store located at 2856 Hickory Hill Road in Memphis.
•Neighborhood Walmart Store

located at 6520 Memphis-Arlington Road in Memphis.
•Neighborhood Walmart Store located at 6990 East Shelby Drive in Memphis.
•Walmart Supercenter located at 8445 US Highway 51 North in Millington.
•Walmart located at 3950 Austin Peay Highway in Memphis.
•Walmart Supercenter located at 7525 Winchester Road in Memphis.

For more information about H1N1 vaccine availability, go to www.shelbycountytn.gov or www.shelbyhealth.shelbycountytn.gov. Citizens can also call the Health Department’s H1N1 hotline from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at 901.379.H1N1.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/lo ... -swine-flu

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/01271 ... N_CFR.html

Another Mid-South child has died after complications with the H1N1 swine flu. This time, it was a 12 year old boy. The death is the second in less than a week at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center. Tuesday, doctors announced their concern over a slight spike in numbers of children admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms.

Doctors are not yet calling this the beginning of a new wave of swine flu, but they say they are watching all cases admitted to the children's hospital closely. Public health officials are asking everyone, especially high risk groups, to get vaccinated not only to protect themselves, but others.

According to Dr. Keith English with LeBonheur, "The only good news is we have not seen such a tremendous increase in the total number of admissions to the hospital with flu, that's the good news. The bad news is that two of the patients who were admitted had fatal complications with the flu, and of course that concerns me."

LeBonheur Children's Medical Center is announcing another death from complications with the H1N1 virus. The latest died Tuesday night, at the children's hospital, a 12 year old Memphis boy.

Dr. Helen Morrow with the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, says from a public health perspective, she is concerned.

"Are people taking advantage of it the way you would have hoped? Not at the level we would have hoped for at to protect themselves against this novel influenza."

Dr. Helen Morrow says the supplies are plentiful at all of the city's clinics, free of charge, and they've expanded the offer at local Wal-Mart stores through the end of February.

"There are not very many things in life that are free, but this one definitely is," said Dr. Morrow.

While Dr. Keith English admits no vaccine is perfect, he says this particular one reduces the chances dramatically of infection.

"If you do get the flu, you are likely to get less severe flu if you got the vaccine," explained Dr. English. "It's not just that it prevents the infection, it also reduces the chance your infection is severe."

Right now Dr. English is unsure whether or not the two recent deaths were children who had been vaccinated, but he is sure of one thing.

"Very few patients who have been vaccinated have been hospitalized with H1N1 influenza."

The LeBonheur lab that tests specimens confirmed all flu being tested in the last month are in fact H1N1 cases, which has curbed the presence of other influenza virus.

The health department continues to stress this is a vaccine preventable disease and they encourage people to take advantage of the FREE vaccine to prevent illness, hospitalization, or death.

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/lo ... -flu-virus

The above story also has a video

http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/lo ... -flu-virus

Dr. Niman, Please refer to post that Serenity posted today. Apparently both children died in Tennessee, but one had residence in Mississippi.
So if that is the the case they were not both from the same state and there needs to be a clarification. As many people are looking at this site and are probably a little worried that 2 children died in their area, but no one knows that when reading this site that one was from another state unless they live in that state or states. I live in California. I had to do research it. It was Serenity's post that clued me. De Soto county borders Tennessee.

I just checked and DeSoto County is in Mississippi. Therefore they are not from the same state. So this post needs to be clarified. The death in De Soto needs to go to Mississippi.