Three children died from the seasonal flu in Maryland last year. The first child death from the H1N1 virus has recently occurred in the state. The H1N1 virus, better known as the swine flu, has rapidly increased, but that is not the biggest concern of Maryland citizens.
Instead, the biggest concern is that children are more susceptible to the flu than adults since many experts agree that adults have been exposed to the virus previously.
Officials have not released any information about the deceased child. It is known that the child had an underlying health problem. Of the 49 children have died nationally from the flu, the majority of them having underlying health problems according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Frances Phillips is Marlyand’s deputy secretary for public health services and said, “This is a tragic occurrence and it is one that other states have experienced with this H1N1 virus. Because of the way the H1N1 virus disproportionally affects children, tragically, some children—even healthy children—can become ill very quickly.”
download The Watcher dvd One day before the death, it was reported that a 13-year-old girl was in intensive care at the University of Maryland Medical Center with the virus. The girl was taken to the hospital where she was diagnosed with double pneumonia according to her aunt.