As flu spreads, children test positive in hospital

No local child deaths reported so far, doctor says.

Flu is widespread in Texas, and a doctor at Dell Children’s Medical Center said Tuesday about a third of the children tested there for flu in the past few days were confirmed to have it.

“What we’re mostly seeing is type B” flu, said Dr. Pat Crocker, chief of emergency medicine at Dell Children’s in Austin. “The good news is, there’s been no excess mortality in children.”

Crocker said he knew of no local child deaths from flu so far this season, which came early and is expected to be particularly severe, according to health officials. The Department of State Health Services said it had reports of two flu deaths in Texas children, both in November.

Texas is among 18 states reporting widespread flu, the highest level of flu activity, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nationally, six children have died from flu as of Dec. 8, the CDC said.

“Flu peaks around midFebruary, and if you look at the country as a whole, we’re already seeing 25 percent of the kids with a febrile (fever) illness testing positive for flu,” Crocker said.

The number of people seeing doctors because of flu is “high” in Texas, according to the state health department. “This year people seem to feel pretty poorly” with flu, Crocker said.

However most people don’t need medical attention, unless they appear sicker than one would expect or have some chronic health condition, such as asthma or kidney disease, he said. A fever lasting four or five days in a person with flu is not unusual, he added.

Tamiflu taken within 48 hours of the onset of illness can reduce its duration. For people who are healthy, Crocker said, “it’s not too late to get a flu shot, but it’s kind of pushing it.” charged, officials said Tuesday.

Jonathan E. Hodges, 32, forced his way into a home in the 900 block of North Bend Drive near Braker Lane and N. Lamar Boulevard about 1 a.m. on Dec. 9 before assaulting the resident and stealing items such as cash, jewelry and credit cards, police said. The victim was able to notify emergency officials by activating a personal safety device, officials said.

Hodges was charged with burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony. He was being held Tuesday in the Travis County Jail with bail set at $30,000. guilty. Military law prohibits a judge from accepting a guilty plea in a capital murder trial, but Hasan’s attorneys have said the Army psychiatrist wishes to take responsibility for the shootings.

Osborn said she would call a hearing in January to take up the defense requests. She did not set a trial date.

Defense attorney Lt. Col. Kris Poppe on Tuesday peppered Osborn with questions regarding her impartiality, including whether she had ever attended any memorial ceremonies for those killed in the Nov. 5, 2009, shootings.

Osborn said she had not and Poppe said he would not challenge her assignment to the case.