Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Email this article to a friend

Student in New Hampshire dies from H1N1 virus

PELHAM, N.H. -- An elementary school child from Pelham, New Hampshire has died from the H1N1 virus, according to the state Department of Public Health.

It is the third death from complications from H1N1 in New Hampshire and the first death of a child in the state.

Officials say the child, who had underlying health problems, had been sick with H1N1 for an extended period of time and eventually developed pneumonia.

"It breaks your heart," Pelham parent Danielle Patten said. "It's devastating. It's the flu, you don't think that this is going to happen with the flu. So, it's very scary."

Officials at the school say they have plans in place to offer school-wide vaccination clinics.

"You always think of children as being so resilient," Pelham Town Administrator Tom Gaydos said. "I know that this child had some other complications but still you always look at children and see the bright side and think that they're going to make it."

(Copyright (c) 2009 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)