17-Year-Old Black Teen Student from Arkansas Dies From Flu Complications

Nationwide — Ca’myiah Simmons, a 17-year-old African American scholar at Sylvan Hills Excessive College in Sherwood, Arkansas, died on January thirty first attributable to issues from the flu. Her loss of life comes as many states within the U.S. have been reporting very excessive flu exercise.

“It’s with nice disappointment that we share the information that one among our Bears handed away,” Sylvan Hills Excessive College shared in an announcement. Her household says that her funeral can be held at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church.

The Arkansas Division of Well being studies a excessive degree of flu exercise within the state, with 30 flu-related deaths this season, in keeping with Fox 16. The flu has triggered almost 11% of public faculty absences for the week ending February 1st. Actually, this yr’s flu season is reportedly probably the most intense it’s been in at the least 15 years

The flu is usually underestimated, however it may be a lethal sickness, particularly for younger individuals. Whereas many consider it as only a seasonal virus, influenza could cause extreme issues like pneumonia, organ failure, and even loss of life. Annually, hundreds of kids and younger adults are hospitalized attributable to flu-related issues, and a few don’t survive. The chance is even larger for these with underlying well being situations, however even wholesome people can expertise life-threatening signs.

Younger persons are significantly susceptible as a result of their immune techniques might not be absolutely developed or ready to struggle off aggressive flu strains. Not like the frequent chilly, the flu can escalate quickly, inflicting excessive fever, problem respiratory, and dehydration. Some instances result in harmful secondary infections reminiscent of bacterial pneumonia or myocarditis, an irritation of the guts muscle. These extreme issues can develop rapidly, making early detection and medical intervention essential.