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WHEELING -- A pediatric flu death was reported in Ohio County on Monday, marking the first recorded influenza-related death of a child in West Virginia this year.
Howard Gamble, administrator of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, said the department was notified of the death early Monday morning. He said the death involved a school-age resident of Ohio County.
Ohio County Schools administrators said the child was a student at Ritchie Elementary School in Wheeling.
Ohio County health officer Dr. William Mercer said early investigation indicates the student died of Influenza A, but he does not think other students need to be prescribed the drug Tamiflu. Mercer addressed Ohio County Board of Education members prior to their work session Monday night to speak of the death and advise the public of the influenza epidemic prevalent across the nation.
Public health laws prohibit Mercer and Gamble from disclosing the child's exact age or other personal information.
"Influenza has been rampant -- we've had it in our community for the past couple of months," Mercer said. "We've had a very bad episode with one of our nursing homes, and it's been more deadly than it has been in recent years."
He said 30 pediatric influenza deaths have occurred in America this year, and it is still early in the flu season. On average, about 100 children die of influenza annually, according to Mercer. However, pediatric flu-related deaths are rare in this area.
"I've been in public health since the early '90s. I don't remember one since I've been in public health," Gamble said.
Gamble said state health officials indicated the current case was the first flu-related death of a child reported in West Virginia this year.
"Pediatric flu death is a very unusual and very unfortunate situation," he said.
The administrator said, "Pediatric deaths are a reportable disease in the state of West Virginia. Staff are working on the case. The school was notified. … We've done a little bit of investigating with ourselves and the school system and hospital."
No special precautions or special clinics are deemed necessary "at any schools as a result of this incident," Gamble said.
Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kimberly Miller has discussed the matter with Gamble. She said students are safe at Ritchie Elementary School.
Grief counselors are available at the school if they are needed by students, she said.
Miller said her thoughts and prayers go out to the student and the student's family.
"The passing of a child is the most difficult of losses, but that is what is being dealt with today at Ritchie Elementary School," she said Monday. "The excellent staff at Ritchie is prepared and committed to providing the appropriate counseling and support to students who may need it following this deeply saddening news. Our condolences go out to the student, the student's family, friends and loved ones and the entire Ritchie Elementary School community."
Health department representatives remain in contact with school officials.
"We encourage them to do regular routine cleaning and hand washing and sanitizing if they are not able to wash hands," Gamble said.
As for the general public, he said it's timely to remind people about the importance of getting a flu vaccine and practicing good hand washing and hygiene.
Mercer expects the flu season to extend longer this year, continuing into April.
"One of the things we want to emphasize is if they haven't had their flu vaccines, they should get it -- and that would include the whole staff and the whole community," Mercer said. "If anything comes of this … it's the need for the whole community to get the shot. If you get the flu shot, you're less likely to get it, or to get it more severely. And if you do get it, you're less likely to pass it on to someone who won't do well."
Staff writer Joselyn King contributed to this report.