Little Emma, 11, dies of flu, leaving her family ‘torn apart’ – after a 15-year-old girl also died from the virus
Emma Schwab, 11, who died last Thursday after contracting the Influenza BA GoFundMe page, says her family is ‘torn apart’ by her tragic death.
A devastated family has been left ‘torn apart’ after their 11-year-old daughter died of the flu as warnings about the dangers of influenza B among young children intensify 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 expenses, has so far raised nearly $9,000.
Emma Schwab (pictured), 11, from Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, died last Thursday after contracting influenza B.
Emma poses with her mother Javiera
GoFundMe organizer Mel Horton wrote, ‘Emma tragically passed away from Influenza B on Thursday.
‘She was only 11 years old. It is understood that the family is broken.’
A spokesman for Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health, where Emma was treated, ‘expressed our deepest sympathies to the family at this very difficult time’.
‘Their experience is heartbreaking for everyone involved,’ they said.
‘Our doctors are helping the family.’
Emma’s death comes after a teenage girl from the Central Coast also died from influenza B.
The Year 9 student attended St Joseph’s Catholic College in East Gosford and died at the weekend after contracting the disease a few weeks ago.
According to ABC, parents with children at the school received a letter informing them of the girl’s tragic death.
“(She) was a good student, considerate of the needs of others, a true friend and a valued member of our college community,” the letter said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has urged parents to get their children vaccinated against the flu
A Central Coast teenager also died of influenza. The Year 9 student attended St Joseph’s Catholic College in East Gosford (pictured) and died at the weekend after contracting the disease a few weeks ago.
Influenza cases have been on the rise across the Central Coast and NSW over the past month, particularly among children.
With 16-year-olds and under representing 54 per cent of all emergency department admissions for influenza-like illnesses last week, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant labeled the spike as ‘concerning’.
‘In recent weeks we have seen the fastest rise in influenza cases among very young children as well as five to 16-year-olds, with these two age groups often accounting for almost half of all flu cases diagnosed in NSW each week,’ Dr Chant said.
‘Sadly, our children’s hospitals are seeing an increasing number of these children being admitted for care and some of these patients are seriously ill.
Dr. Chant urged parents to get their children vaccinated against the flu to reduce the risk of hospitalization.
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 this can include serious heart, brain and muscle complications.