7-Year-Old Virginia Boy Dies From Flu, Strep: Reports

HURT, VA — Virginia health officials say a 7-year-old likely died from the flu and strep, in what is believed to be the first pediatric flu death this year in the state. Kevin Baynes Jr. of Hurt in southwest Virginia, died Sunday, his family says, less than a day after his parents took to a hospital emergency room for treatment.

"My cousin passed away this morning and he is only 7 years old and he passed away from the flu and strep throat and his parents are devastated and shocked," wrote a family member who created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses. "They loved (their) little boy very much and his two sisters and brother is going to miss him very much they don't have the money to pay for his funeral and they shouldn't have to bury there child at this age so if anybody could help please help. Thanks"

The Virginia Department of Health has confirmed the boy's death, while officials await the results of an autopsy by the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.

The youngster's father, Kevin Baynes, told WWBT that the first-grader was sent home from school Friday after throwing up and falling asleep in class. His symptoms worsened on Saturday, so the boy's mother took him to the hospital in Gretna.

"They said he had the flu and strep throat. They sent him home with amoxycilin and zofran," the elder Baynes told the TV station. On Sunday, Kevin's older sister found him unresponsive; the family tried CPR and the hospital worked to revive him, but he was pronounced dead.

As of Tuesday morning, about $7,800 had been donated on the GoFundMe page to help the Baynes family.

A total of 37 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported for the 2017-2018 season, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The Virginia Department of Health reports the flu is widespread in the state, with hospital emergency room and urgent care visits for influenza cases increasing in all ages groups during the week that ended Jan. 20, according to health officials.

Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, body aches, headaches and fatigue. The flu virus is spread through the air, from coughing and sneezing, or by touching something that someone with the virus has touched.

You can pass the flu to someone else before and while you are sick. And according to a new study, it may be easier to spread the flu than previously thought. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health found that people infected with the flu can spread the virus in the air just by breathing — even if they don't cough or sneeze.

The first flu-related death in Maryland was reported last week when a Frederick woman died, while the nearby states of Pennsylvania and Delaware have had multiple influenza casualties so far this season.
The particularly bad season is attributed to infections from a flu strain known as H3N2. It doesn't respond well to vaccinations and is particularly dangerous to young children and older adults over the age of 65.

Here are tips to avoid the flu and curb its spread, provided by the Centers for Disease Control:

• Stay home if you are sick. With the exception of seeking medical care, do not go out until 24 hours after your fever has subsided without the use of medication.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that may have become contaminated with germs.
• Avoid others who are sick.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue. Throw away tissues after use.

To treat the flu, use over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or cough syrup to relieve symptoms. Rest in bed and drink lots of fluids. If you contact your doctor within 48 hours of onset of symptoms, you may be able to take an antiviral drug, which will reduce the severity of symptoms and length of the illness.

You can be contagious from one day before and up to seven days after becoming sick.

So far, the 2018 flu season has not reached historic levels, but it is on par with the worst flu season in recent years, the 2014-2015 season. As with any flu virus, the people most at risk are the elderly, children under five, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.

Photo of Kevin Baynes Jr. courtesy of GoFundMe