10-month-old infant is Sarasota's fourth H1N1 flu death

David Gulliver - posted 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7

A 10-month-old Sarasota County girl died from an illness related to the novel influenza H1N1 A, or swine flu, county health officials said Wednesday afternoon.

"While the majority of people who get the flu will fully recover, every death is tragic, especially in an infant, and this is a sobering reminder that influenza is a serious disease and it can be fatal," said Dr. William Heymann, medical executive director for the county Health Department.

The infant had an underlying health condition, a department spokeswoman said, but disclosed no other details. As Sarasota Health News has reported, most fatal cases in children occur in patients with serious underlying conditions already found to make them more susceptible to flu.

Because children under five are at the most risk for complications from the swine flu virus, health officials stressed that parents, guardians and caregivers should watch for the following warning signs that indicate a need for immediate medical attention:

- fast breathing or trouble breathing

- bluish or gray skin color

- severe or persistent vomiting

- not waking up or not interacting

- being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

- flu-like symptoms that improve but return with fever and worse cough

Parents also should discuss the newly available H1N1 flu vaccine with their pediatrician.

It is the fourth confirmed flu-related death of a county resident. The other fatal cases were in adults. There have been five other Sarasota cases that resulted in hospitalization.

The state Health Department reported this morning that there have been 109 swine flu-related deaths in Florida. The most deaths have been in Dade County, with 22. Sarasota's total is comparable to other similar counties: Lee reported three fatal cases, and Pinellas reported five.