Baby died at Texas Children's Hospital

HOUSTON (AP/KXAN) - In the first U.S. death in the current swine flu outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the virus killed a 23-month-old boy in Texas.

CDC acting director Dr. Richard Besser confirmed the death Wednesday, and Houston EMS Director David Persse said the boy was from Mexico City but died in at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston.

Houston Health and Human Services Department spokeswoman Kathy Barton said the chid traveled with family from Mexico to Brownsville in South Texas on April 4, developing flu symptoms four days later.

Persse said the child is suspected to have gotten sick in Matamoros, Mexico, just across the border from Brownsville. The Texas Department of State Health Services said the boy had underlying health problems when he traveled to Brownsville to visit relatives.

The child became ill in Brownsville, where Persse said the toddler's health deteriorated rapidly.

The family took the toddler to the Houston hospital April 14 after he developed a fever and other flu symptoms, and Persse said though the child was treated "very aggressively" with medication, the baby died Monday night.

Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos said the flu virus caused pneumonia, which is what killed the boy. Texas Children's Hospital in Houston said in a statement the boy was suffering from acute respiratory illness.

Meanwhile, Persse said the family is still in Houston and is being tended to. Though the family is asymptomatic, they are being looked after by medical staff through the hospital involved. Persse said all family members are healthy and well.

"We know that we need to take our own personal precautions," said Persse.

Additionally, Texas Children's Hospital said it is carefully monitoring health care providers involved in the case, though none have displayed swine flu symptoms.

"We want to emphasize that this case should not trigger undue alarm," said a Texas Children's Hospital doctor. "Everyone needs to be their own infections control officer."

The hospital said it is setting up extra stations with hand sanitizers and tissues, citing it has an excellent record for hand hygeine.

The Texas Children's Hospital has an infection control plan, which it has had for some time. The hospital said it will take appropriate infection control mesasures, expanding if necessary.

"The larger message to be emphasized is that we in Texas, in Houston and the Texas Children's Hospital are in preparedness mode right now," said a hospital doctor.

Houston Mayor Bill White pointed out the toddler was a transfer patient into the area, saying since Houston has great medical facilities in the area, it is natural it will be a place for medical transports.

Besser said the confirmed death of a toddler in Texas is a tragic development, but it is too soon to say just how fast the swine flu virus is spreading. Health authorities anticipated deaths caused by the virus.

"As a pediatrician and a parent, my heart goes out to the family," said Besser.

Besser said it Is too soon to say if the death in Texas suggests the virus is spreading to more states nor would he say whether officials think it will become a nationwide problem.

However, Besser said he did not believe "this indicates any change in the strain of the flu."

"We see with any flu virus a spectrum of disease symptoms," said Besser.

Besser said authorities need to learn more about the threat.

"The city, the state, this country have public health officials who are prepared on communicating about the swine flu influenza," said White. "The president advised us to be alert and prepared. I think those are good words for Americans."

Persse said the swine flu virus being dealt with nationwide has behaved like many flu viruses, following the same pattern as the seasonal flu.

"The seasonal flu is monitored but not with this kind of vigilance," said Persse.

Persse noted 36,000 to 40,000 people die from the seasonal flu each year, adding that most people are getting better from the swine flu without any treatment at all.

Persse offered tips on ways people could protect themselves from contracting the virus:

• Wash hands frequently. Persse said it is the single-most important thing to do.
• Social distancing, which means do not go to school or work if you think you have the virus.
• Pay close attention to yourself, including your friends and neighbors.

Persse also offered clarifications between suspected, probable and confirmed cases:

• Suspected:This is when someone has symptoms similar to those cause by the virus or the patient has some sort of medical history.
• Probable: Showing symptoms or having a screening that suggests patients have it.
• Confirmed: The CDC declared a confirmation. It is the only place that is able to confirm cases.

Swine flu symptoms:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Body aches
• Upset stomach

Persse recommends paying close attention to public messaging.