Ritchie Elementary School Student in Wheeling Dies From Flu
WHEELING — A pediatric flu death was reported in Ohio County on Monday, marking the first recorded influenza-related death of a child in West Virginia this year.
Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department Administrator Howard Gamble said the department was notified of the death early Monday morning.
He said the death involved a school-age resident of Ohio County, and Ohio County Schools administrators said the child was a student at Ritchie Elementary School in Wheeling.
Ohio County Health Officer Dr. William Mercer said early investigation indicates the student died of Influenza A, but he does not think students need to be prescribed the drug Tamiflu.
Mercer addressed Ohio County Board of Education members prior to their work session Monday to speak of the death and advise the public of the influenza epidemic prevalent across the nation.
Public health laws prohibit Mercer and Gamble from disclosing the child’s exact age or other personal information.
“Influenza has been rampant — we’ve had it in our community for the past couple of months,” Mercer said. “We’ve had a very bad episode with one of our nursing homes, and it’s been more deadly than it has been in recent years.”
He said 30 pediatric influenza deaths have occurred in America this year, and it is still early in the flu season.
On average, about 100 children die of influenza annually, according to Mercer.
However, pediatric flu-related deaths are rare in this area. Gamble said, “I’ve been in public health since the early ’90s. I don’t remember one since I’ve been in public health.”
Gamble said state health officials indicated the current case was the first flu-related death of a child reported in West Virginia this year. “Pediatric flu death is a very unusual and very unfortunate situation,” he said.
“Pediatric deaths are a reportable disease in the state of West Virginia. Staff are working on the case. The school was notified … We’ve done a little bit of investigating with ourselves and the school system and hospital.”
No special precautions or special clinics are deemed necessary “at any schools as a result of this incident,” Gamble said.
Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kimberly Miller has discussed the matter with Gamble. She said Ritchie Elementary students are safe.
Grief counselors are available at the school if they are needed by students, she said.
Miller said her thoughts and prayers go out to the student and the student’s family.
“The passing of a child is the most difficult of losses, but that is what is being dealt with today at Ritchie Elementary School,” Miller said Monday. “The excellent staff at Ritchie is prepared and committed to providing the appropriate counseling and support to students who may need it following this deeply saddening news.”
Health department representatives remain in contact with school officials, Gamble said. “We encourage them to do regular routine cleaning and hand washing and sanitizing if they are not able to wash hands,” he said.
As for the general public, he said it’s timely to remind people about the importance of getting a flu vaccine and practicing good hand washing and hygiene.
Mercer expects the flu season to extend longer this year, continuing into April.
“One of the things we want to emphasize is if they haven’t had their flu vaccines, they should get it — and that would include the whole staff and the whole community,” Mercer said.
Staff Writer Joselyn King contributed to this report.
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