Sunshine Coast schoolgirl was released from hospital a day before she died of the flu

A primary school student who died after catching the flu was so unwell she was taken to the emergency department a day earlier but was discharged. 

Emma Schwab, 11, was treated for Influenza B at Noosa Hospital on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on July 5 but returned home.

Her condition then worsened to the point paramedics were called the following day, reports The Courier Mail.

Multiple ambulance crews, including critical care paramedics, attended the home and rushed her to Gold Coast University Hospital where she sadly died on July 6. 

A Gold Coast University Hospital spokesperson would not comment on specifics but said it was ‘heartbreaking’ and that trained personnel were supporting Emma’s devastated parents Cameron and Javiera Schwab. 

Noosa Hospital is run by Ramsay Health Care with a spokesperson telling the newspaper they have reached out to the family.

‘We express our deepest condolences to the patient’s family and loved ones; we have been in contact with the family to offer our support during this extremely difficult time.’

Emma pictured with her mum Javiera was released from hospital and went home

Australia is experiencing a spike in flu cases this season, with the highest number among children.

From January 1 to June 25, there have been 116,473 flu notifications reported to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) in Australia, the Health Department said.

‘Since seasonal surveillance commenced in April 2023, there have been 1,236 sentinel hospital admissions with influenza, of which 80 people or 6.5 per cent were admitted directly to ICU.’

‘In the year-to-date, notification rates have been highest in people aged 05–09 years, followed by those aged 0–04 years, and 10–14 years.’

In NSW alone, 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. 

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has urged parents to get their children vaccinated against flu

Since May, 16 children have been admitted to intensive care in NSW 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. 

A GoFundMe page, set up by a friend of Emma Schwab’s parents to cover her funeral costs, has raised almost $9,000. 

‘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.’

Emma’s death comes after a teenage girl from the Central Coast also died after contracting Influenza B.

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

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.