15 Year Old From DeKalb Dies Of Flu

DECATUR, GA — A 15-year-old student from DeKalb County has become the latest youth casualty of what health officials are calling a particularly brutal flu season.

Miguel Jaimes Martinez, a student at Cross Keys High School on North Druid Hills Road, was the DeKalb County school district's first death from the flu virus. Cross Keys Principal Jason Heard informed the school community of the death, which happened on Sunday, in a message Monday.

Counselors were visiting classrooms at the school on Monday and students who wanted counseling were offered it at the school's media center.

"The entire DeKalb County School District is saddened by the news that one of our own has passed away due to illness," DeKalb schools Superintendent R. Stephen Green said in a written statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the student's family, loved ones and peers in this unfortunate and trying time. Counselors will be made available to students and staff members at Cross Keys High School during this difficult event."

Miguel was described as a sweet, charming teen who enjoyed playing soccer.

"We just didn't see him for a week. We were confused," Diego Castro, a friend of Miguel's,told WSB-TV. "It's just incredible. It's hard to believe."

At least 66 Georgians have died during a flu season that has ravaged much of the continental United States. This year's most prevalent flu strain is H3N2, a particularly tough variety of the virus which was not fully accounted for in flu vaccines given in Georgia (although health officials note that a flu shot will still lessen the severity of the flu if you catch it).

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, more than 1,000 people in the state have been hospitalized due to flu symptoms. The deaths the DPH has reported have included two children between 5-17 years old, seven between the ages of 18-51 and eight between 51-64.

The other 49 deaths were people 65 or older, according to the department.

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, like Tamiflu, 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.

Photo by Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press