Child dies from swine flu, Orange County Health Department says

School-aged child marks 3rd death in Orange County, 5th in Central Fla.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County health officials have confirmed on Thursday a school-aged child has died from swine flu.

The child, who had preexisting health conditions, marks the third person in Orange County who has died from the flu, making it the fifth flu-related death in Central Florida in 2014.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this child," said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County Health. "All of us should get the flu vaccine and continue to be alert and practice good hygiene measures."

54-year-old Mindy Lamb died on Tuesday after catching the flu, according to her husband.

"It's the worse nightmare you can ever imagine," said Robert Lamb. "Nothing's more devastating than this."

At the first of the year, Lamb said his eldest son came home with the flu and two days later, his wife was hospitalized and spent the next 18 days on a respirator.

"She was a strong lady," Lamb said. "I mean she fought for 18 days and she couldn't do it anymore."

Lamb said three weeks before she became ill, his wife had a physical and aside from being slightly overweight and having high blood pressure, she was fine.

Lamb said he received a flu shot this year but his son and wife did not.

"She died to speak  this to everybody. Get the flu shot don't end up like us, " he said.

In Florida, the most common influenza subtype detected at the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in recent weeks has been influenza A.

Health officials said pregnant women, young children, cancer patients, people with asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, and kidney disease need to pay particular attention to personal hygiene, avoid close contact to infected persons, and consult with their healthcare provider regarding the influenza vaccine.


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