Oct 29, 2009 8:02 am US/Eastern
Family Of Swine Flu Victim Speaks About Losing Son
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Demetrick Bishop died from swine flu at the age of 21.
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Another Maryland family is grief-stricken just days after a 21-year-old Baltimore man died from the H1N1 virus.
Andrea Fujii reports he's one of 12 Marylanders to die from the swine flu.
Family members, who talked only to
WJZ, describe Demetrick "Mickey" Bishop as an outgoing young man who was full of life. That's why his sudden death from H1N1 has hit his family so hard.
"We all were sick over the week. We all had a slight flu or whatever," said Rossana Bishop, Demetrick's mother.
Bishop, who lived in Cherry Hill, died after a very brief bout with the H1N1 virus. His twin brother Damieon and others got sick, but got better. His family says for a time, it appeared he was going to pull through, but he got worse.
Demetrick was admitted to Harbor Hospital on Oct. 5, released, then readmitted on Oct. 7. Just six days later, he died. He died days before what would have been his 22nd birthday.
"It was so sudden. It's like we all were together one day and the next, he was gone," said Danielle Graham, sister.
The family of 18-year-old Walter Brooks of Glen Burnie told
WJZ that his death was also confirmed to have been caused by the swine flu. Hundreds of people attended Brooks' funeral on Tuesday with hopes that his sudden death would encourage others to seek protection.
Neither Bishop nor Brooks had any underlying health conditions.
"We regret to report two more deaths associated with the novel H1N1 influenza," said DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers. "We know how serious influenza can be and, unfortunately, expect more flu-related deaths as we head into the heart of the flu season. "We continue to urge everyone to adopt preventive practices such as to stay home if you are sick, wash your hands frequently, cover your coughs and sneezes and take advantage of H1N1 vaccine as immunizations are available."
On Wednesday, Maryland received nearly 70,000 doses of the vaccine -- one of the biggest shipments yet. But the state is still very behind as a result of a nationwide delay in production.
"H1N1 continues to spread in the community and remains the dominant factor in flu-like illness statewide," said Frances Phillips, DHMH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services.
Maryland is one of 46 states reporting geographically widespread influenza activity as virtually every indicator reveals the spread of swine flu is on the rise across the state.
Symptoms of influenza include fever, cough, and sore throat. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea or shortness of breath.
Meanwhile, thousands of Maryland students are getting their doses at school.
Wednesday marked the start date of Carroll County's effort to protect kids from the H1N1 virus. Fifteen of its schools reported more than 10 percent of its students absent last Friday.
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade at four elementary schools received the vaccine. Health officials will tackle five more schools on Friday.
"I think it's important to parents because we're not sure what can happen or what will happen to the child if, in fact, they get H1N1. It's free, it's here at the school and their kids are here, so it's just real convenient," said Carroll County school nurse Doris Smith.
Still, by the end of the week, nurses would have vaccinated fewer than 2,000 students out of 12,000 elementary age students in the county.
That number will grow as doses become available from the state. But a national delay in production is creating a major challenge from coast to coast.
"Every state is in this same bind. The doses that we have available to us are calculated strictly on a per capita basis, so it's based on population," said Phillips. "Every state in the country is looking for more vaccine than they have."
In Carroll County, school officials say less than half of those students eligible to receive the vaccine turned in a permission slip. Nurses say that's because some parents remain skeptical about the vaccine.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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