Boy, 14, Dies After Contracting H1N1

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A 14-year-old boy died Thursday evening after contracting the H1N1 virus, health officials confirmed Friday.

According to Columbus Public Health, the boy's death is the first local pediatric death from the virus. He was a patient at Nationwide Children’s Hospital for the past week.

Franklin County Coroner's office identified the victim as Jon Fowler. NBC 4 has learned that he was a student at Holy Spirit Catholic School.

The school was closed on Monday for a conference in Cincinnati, but the American flag in front of the school was at half-staff in memory of Fowler.

The pastor of Holy Spirit Parish said this is a very sad day for his church and school. The school will be closed on Tuesday for Fowler's funeral

Pastor William Arnold said Jon was a good kid, doing the job of a kid, he was also an alter boy and played football. Arnold said he would always talk to others in the hallways and never met a stranger.

"As a parent, my heart goes out to this child's family," said Dr. Teresa Long, Columbus Public Health Commissioner. “As a physician, this tragedy reinforces that the H1N1 virus is in our community, and poses a risk to us all, especially children, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions. We urge parents -- and all residents -- to get an H1N1 vaccine when they are available and to take every day steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and the entire community.”

Long said the death reinforces that the virus is in our community and poses a threat to all. She urged parents to watch for signs and symptoms and receive treatment for children exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Health officials said that the majority of all flu in Columbus currently is H1N1 influenza.

A limited supply of H1N1 nasal vaccine, which cannot be given to children under the age of two or pregnant women, is expected to arrive in the next few days. H1N1 injectable vaccines are expected to follow and arrive by mid-October. The vaccines will initially be targeted to high risk groups and their close contacts, including pregnant women; caregivers of children less than 6-months-old; healthcare and EMS workers; and, children 6 months to 4 years-old.

“Initially, shots will be available to priority groups according to CDC guidance, but eventually, everyone who wants one will be able to get it to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Susan Tilgner, Franklin County Board of Health Commissioner.


The following statement was released by the Diocese of Columbus Friday afternoon:

"The Diocese of Columbus offers heartfelt condolences to and prayer for the family of Jon Fowler, student at Holy Spirit School, who passed away yesterday as reported by the Columbus Board of Health today. As a community of faith, we share in their loss. Because of privacy laws, neither the Diocese of Columbus nor Holy Spirit School, where Jon was a student, have access to this medical case. In the absence of that expertise, any attempt to try to discuss it, then, would be speculative at best.

"The discussion that is vital at this time is the importance of communicating and implementing measures which can lessen the spread of influenza, both seasonal and H1N1. Parents can be assured that those measures are and have been implemented by our schools and staff.

"Holy Spirit, like all of our schools in the Diocese of Columbus, have regularly communicated with parents since the beginning of the school year regarding the H1N1 virus and the ways to help prevent its spread.

"Safe environment precautions taken by Holy Spirit School since the beginning of the school year include:

• The first parent newsletter of the academic year, published in August, included an attachment with information about H1N1 and precautionary, practical steps for families to use to lessen the spread of H1N1.
• A letter was sent to parents via the school messaging system regarding H1N1 prevention on Friday, October 2, and again on Monday, October 4, 2009.
• Drinking fountains are shut down. Students bring bottled water or use cups which are distributed by a single source as well as disposed in one designated place.
• Common areas are disinfected twice daily during school hours as well as each evening.
• Lunch tables/chairs are disinfected before each lunch group uses them;
• The cafeteria line provides antibacterial gel for use by students as do teachers’ desks

"In addition to these steps, the diocesan crisis management team will be present at the school on Monday, October 12, when classes resume, to assist with the students' and staff's needs."

A 20-year-old woman in Franklin County died of swine flu in September a week after delivering a healthy baby girl. An 18-year-old Cuyahoga County woman died in June from swine flu shortly after giving birth.

The H1N1 vaccine arrived in Ohio Thursday afternoon.

The State of Ohio received 61,500 doses of the nasal vaccine, which was was being repackaged and sent to hospitals and public health departments.

Health care workers who work one-on-one with patients will be the first to receive the vaccine.

Local health agencies will continue to track flu strains from emergency room visits, school absentee rates, medicine sales and lab results.

Both health commissioners also point out there are things everyone can do to help prevent H1N1 and seasonal influenza:

• Get a seasonal flu shot as soon as possible.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Cover your cough.
• Wash your hands and use alcohol–based hand sanitizers.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Get an H1N1 vaccine when it’s available.

The seasonal flu clinic operated by Licking Memorial Hospital at the Indian Mound Mall, has been temporarily suspended until a new supply of vaccine arrives.

When the next shipment of vaccine arrives, the seasonal flu clinic at the Indian Mound Mall will resume operations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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