KILLER FLU’S BRIT VICTIM AGED JUST 9 Boy is youngest to die
A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy is believed to be the youngest in the UK to die from this year’s winter flu outbreak.
Public Health England revealed yesterday a Year 5 school pupil had passed away after testing positive for a strain of the virus.
Devon has been recognised as the worst area for “Aussie Flu”, with doctors working around the clock to stave off the deadly disease.
Infection
However, the schoolboy from Exeter is not believed to have suffered from the Aussie strain.
Dr Bayad Nozad, consultant in health protection for Public Health England South West, said: “We are aware of the very sad death of a young person who was confirmed to have had influenza infection. Our thoughts are with the family at this tragic time.”
The boy, who died at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital this week, has not yet been identified at the family’s request. However, his school have paid tribute to him, describing him as a “special little boy”.
The headteacher said: “He always had a real hunger to learn and a desire to do well. He was well liked by children and adults and had a good group of friends and really enjoyed laughing and playing with them. We will miss him.”
The news comes after it emerged three times as many people died of flu last week in the UK compared with the same time last year.
With the virus sweeping the nation, the death toll is now at at 155.