Local boy, 9, dies in wake of flu outbreak

By: Brian McNeill | Daily Progress
Published: October 12, 2009

A 9-year-old Albemarle County boy who had been diagnosed with a flu-like illness died Saturday at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
Carson Raymond, a third-grader at Woodbrook Elementary School, had an underlying heart condition, his parents said Sunday. It was not known over the weekend if he had the novel influenza A H1N1 strain, also known as swine flu.
“Carson was just a very unlucky boy that this happened to,” said Jennifer Raymond, the boy’s mother.
While it was not clear if Carson’s death was tied to H1N1, the number of deaths among young people diagnosed as having swine flu has increased in recent weeks.
Nineteen children and teenagers died across the country last week from the illness, bringing to 76 the total number of fatalities of those under 18 years old since the flu pandemic began last spring. Most of the young people who have died from the flu had an underlying medical condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Many schools in the Charlottesville region and elsewhere have reported elevated levels of student absences, primarily due to the flu. As of Friday, roughly one out of every five students at Woodbrook Elementary was out sick.
Albemarle County schools spokeswoman Maury Brown said that counselors will be at Woodbrook today to help students, teachers and others cope with the grief of losing Carson.
“We will have our crisis team with additional support and counselors at the school,” Brown said.
The school system notified parents and teachers that a member of the Woodbrook community had passed away, but provided few details. Brown said an announcement about Carson is planned to go out today.
Dr. Lilian Peake, director of the Thomas Jefferson Health District, said she could not comment on the boy’s case but did confirm that a child diagnosed with flu-like symptoms had died.
The health district reported on Sept. 30 that the Charlottesville region saw its first fatality associated with H1N1. An unidentified man with an underlying medical condition died at UVa hospital, marking the state’s sixth death tied to the flu strain.
Peake noted that the vast majority of people with flu-like illness do not need to see a physician or undergo hospitalization.
The health district received word Friday that it would receive 1,500 doses of the new H1N1 flu vaccine this week, up from 400 doses last week. Voluntary vaccinations in Albemarle County schools are expected to begin Oct. 19.
Carson’s parents said they hope their son’s death will not cause a panic. The cause of death, they said, has not yet been determined.
Carson’s father, John Raymond, said the boy turned 9 last week. He loved Pokemon and reading Harry Potter books and playing football with his two younger brothers.
“He was a super sweet, super smart little boy,” John Raymond said.
A Friday night prayer vigil for Carson at UVa hospital drew some 350 people, his parents said.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” Jennifer Raymond said. “[We’ve been] buoyed by it.”

Local boy, 9, dies in wake of flu outbreak

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

Things to Do