Little Emma, 11, dies from the flu leaving her family ‘torn apart’ – after a 15-year-old girl also died from the virus as cases surge
- Emma Schwab, 11, died last Thursday after contracting Influenza B
- A GoFundMe page says her family are ‘torn apart’ by her tragic death
A devastated family has been ‘torn apart’ after their 11-year-old daughter died from the flu, as warnings intensify over the dangers of influenza B among young children this winter.
Emma Schwab, 11, from Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, died last Thursday after contracting Influenza B.
A GoFundMe page, set up by a friend of the girl’s parents to cover her funeral costs, has so far raised almost $9,000.
Emma Schwab (pictured), 11, from Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, died last Thursday after contracting Influenza B
Emma pictured with her mum Javiera
‘Emma tragically passed away on Thursday from Influenza B,’ wrote the GoFundMe organiser Mel Horton.
‘She was only 11 years old. Understandably the family is torn apart.’
A Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health spokesperson, where Emma was treated, offered ‘sincere sympathies to the family during this extremely difficult time’.
‘Their experience is heartbreaking for everyone involved,’ they said.
‘Our clinicians are providing support to the family.’
Emma’s death comes after a teenage girl from the Central Coast also died after contracting Influenza B.
The Year 9 student attended St Joseph’s Catholic College in East Gosford and passed away on the weekend after falling ill with the disease several weeks ago.
Parents with children at the school received a letter informing them of the girl’s tragic death, according to the ABC.
‘(She) was a well-loved student, thoughtful to the needs of others, a true friend and a valued member of our college community,’ the letter read.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has urged parents to get their children vaccinated against flu
A teenage girl from the Central Coast also died after contracting Influenza. The Year 9 student attended St Joseph’s Catholic College in East Gosford (pictured) and passed away on the weekend after falling ill with the disease several weeks ago
Influenza cases have been surging across the Central Coast and NSW over the past month, particularly among children.
Those aged 16 and under represent 54 per cent of all emergency department admissions for influenza-like illness over the last week, with NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant labelling the spike ‘concerning’.
‘In recent weeks we have seen influenza cases rising fastest among very young children as well as those aged five to 16 years, with these two age groups often accounting for around half of all flu cases diagnosed in NSW each week,’ said Dr Chant.
‘Sadly, our children’s hospitals are seeing an increasing number of these children being admitted for care and some of these patients are seriously unwell.
Dr Chant urged parents to get their children vaccinated against flu to reduce the risk of them being hospitalised.
Since May, 16 children have been admitted to intensive care with life-threatening complications from influenza at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and John Hunter Hospital.
Doctors say these can include serious heart, brain, and muscle-related complications.
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