Un-Vaccinated Denver Child, 7, Dies Of Flu; 2nd Child Death In CO

DENVER, CO – A second Colorado child has died of flu. Selina Nguyen, 7, of Denver died Feb. 10 after weeks in a coma. Selina, who was not vaccinated, had been hospitalized before Christmas. Family members of the child described as "loving, kind hearted and giving” by her mother begged parents to vaccinate their children

Funeral services will be held this weekend for Selina. At first the family believed Selina had a normal cold, but the symptoms worsened and she was rushed to Children's Hospital, a GoFundMe page posted by friends of the Nguyen family said. Selina's family were "praying for a miracle" and "tried every avenue" including skull surgery to relieve pressure on the brain, after their child was diagnosed with H1N1 flu virus. After seven weeks of "zero brain activity" the family made the "difficult decision" to take the child off life support," family friends said. Extra money raised after expenses for Selina's funeral and hospital costs will go to a charity, because "that is what Selina would have wanted," her mother said.

Family members urged supporters to make sure their children were vaccinated for the flu.

Colorado's flu rate is among the highest the U.S., a report from the Centers For Disease Control said last week. The H1N1 (Swine Flu) strain is the most dangerous this season. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment flu data had not been updated Friday morning, but as of last week, 1,851 people had been hospitalized in Colorado during the 2018-19 flu season, with 20 outbreaks at long-term care facilities.

The flu can cause serious illness, hospitalization and death. The groups most at risk are older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with certain chronic medical conditions, according to the CDC.

You can use the CDC’s flu vaccine finder to locate a pharmacy or clinic near you that provides the vaccine:

According to the CDC, symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills (Though not everyone with flu will have a fever)
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.

Feroze Dhanoa, Patch National Staff contributed to this article

Image via GoFundMe

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