Corcoran Boy, 6, Dies From H1N1 Complications

by: Esme Murphy; WCCO

A 6-year-old Corcoran, Minn. boy died from complications because of an infection with the H1N1 influenza virus, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said Monday.

Nathanael David Schilling died on Sept. 24. He was pronounced dead in an ambulance outside his family's home.

The medical examiner said Nathanael died from an inflammation of the heart muscle, complicating the H1N1 infection. He had no underlying medical conditions.

The boy lived in rural Corcoran and was a first-grader at St. John's Lutheran School, also in Corcoran. The principal said the student's faith is helping them deal with Nathanael's loss.

"We teach the kids very clearly that they're baptized and they're members of God's family. And they can take that with them and knowing that Nathan is part of that family too," said Principal Gary Volderbring.

Nathanael is described as a happy, typical 6-year-old. The Volderbring said the family is receiving an outpouring of support.

The state epidemiologist Nathanael's case is rare.

"What I can tell you is that it is very unusual to have such a severe case. As I said, most people don't have complications but that's why we want people to know if something seems to not be going in the right direction, we want you to talk to your doctor," said Dr. Ruth Lynfield.

This marks the third death of a child from Minnesota under the age of 9 from complications related to H1N1, also referred to as swine flu, the Minnesota Department of Health said. There have been seven H1N1-related deaths in Minnesota total.

Minnesota Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sanne Magnan, said for most people the H1N1 flu is not severe but, it's apparent that children are especially vulnerable to the new virus.

The severe H1N1 symptoms to watch for are trouble breathing, vomiting, confusion and high fever. Lynfield said most people who have the H1N1 virus continue to suffer relatively mild symptoms.

The first doses of the H1N1 vaccine are in Minnesota right now. They are being distributed to health care workers at local hospitals.

Of Minnesota's 327 hospitalized cases of H1N1 to date, 138 of them were children under the age of 9.

Source: WCCO

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