Feb 26, 2009 10:10 am US/Eastern
Howard County Teen Dies From Flu
MOUNT AIRY, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Zac Weiland died from the flu.
CBS
The Howard County Department of Health has confirmed a teenager has died from the flu.
Kai Jackson has more on this case and how schools around the area are being affected.
Every year, a little more than 35,000 people die nationwide from the flu. Many of them are at least 65. Doctors say when children die, it's time to take note.
Flu season is typical but the warning to get a flu shot got louder when Zac Weiland, 15, died this week. He was a scholar and athlete. He went to school at Mount Airy Christian Academy.
"He was respected by all of his classmates. He was respected by his coaches," said father Kirk Weiland.
The symptoms came on suddenly Feb. 16, but he rapidly got worse. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Pediatric Hospital, but he died Feb. 22.
"Ultimately they had to put him on a ventilator and then heart/lung machine, then he rolled into a coma," said Kirk Weiland. "This all happened in about six hours."
"This is a healthy, athletic teenage kid in Howard County who literally in 24 hours went all the way downhill," said Dr. Peter Beilensen, Howard County Health Department.
"What the doctors ultimately explained to us was that Zac's genetic makeup and the strain of virus that this was just could not co-exist," said Weiland.
Zac's father says his son had a calling and spiritual mission.
"He really believed that his purpose here on this earth was to win souls for Jesus Christ," said Weiland.
Zac is survived by his mother, father and sister.
Meanwhile In Baltimore County, the Immaculate Conception School in Towson has been closed. Classes are canceled and the building is being disinfected due to the flu.
"We had so many children leaving and teachers were getting sick," said principal Madelyn Maney.
Dr. Beilensen says the symptoms between adults and children can be different but they both start suddenly.
Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting.
Doctors encourage flu shots, cover sneezes and coughs, do frequent hand-washing and avoid those who are sick.
There have been nine pediatric deaths in the U.S so far.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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