Possible second flu death reported in Nassau

Nassau health officials say they may have another flu death on their hands after initial test results show a 9-year-old from Woodmere died from influenza A. Last month, a 10-year-old Levittown girl who

News 12 Staff

Mar 4, 2009, 6:39 PM

Updated 5,623 days ago

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Nassau health officials say they may have another flu death on their hands after initial test results show a 9-year-old from Woodmere died from influenza A.
Last month, a 10-year-old Levittown girl who went to Northside Elementary School died of influenza A. It's not clear in either case if the children had been vaccinated, but it's possible that even if they were, they could have been killed by a flu strain that wasn't in this year's vaccine.
Doctors say it?s not too late to get children vaccinated. They recommend anyone from 6 months old to 18 years old and older than 50 get the vaccine.
Dr. Steven Walerstein, of Nassau University Medical Center, says parents should be alert their children may have the flu if they have a temperature of 102 or above and complain of shortness of breath or lethargy. He says in that case, it is vital parents call their pediatricians. It may even be necessary to go to the emergency room, Walerstein says.
NUMC is offering low-cost flu vaccines every day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For those who don?t have insurance, the vaccine costs just $20.


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