Ruby Memorial Hospital: MHS Student Who Died Had H1N1 Influenza - WBOY-TV

MORGANTOWN -- A Morgantown High School student who died Sunday had influenza A virus H1N1, according to a release from the Monongalia County Health Department.

Ruby Memorial Hospital confirmed this with the health department Wednesday, the release says.

The cause of death for Misty Cricks, 17, will be determined within four to six weeks, once the state medical examiner's office completes her autopsy, according to the release.

She had another condition that weakened her immune system and she was hospitalized more than a week ago.

Officials at Morgantown High issued a statement Tuesday:

"It's devastating to lose a child. (Misty) was an important part of the school and will be sadly missed by the entire school community. Their thoughts and prayers go out to her family. She was remembered with a moment of silence yesterday," Principal Robert DeSantis said.

Misty will be recognized in the school yearbook and the school is undertaking some efforts to raise funds for her funeral, DeSantis said.

"It's a great loss," Monongalia County School Superintendent Frank Devono said. "If you lose any students its always a great loss to the school system and so we're presently working with counselors in that building to see if we need some additional help up there to be able to do some grief counseling."

The schools are continuing their battle against the spread of the virus. Devono said parents should keep their students at home if they have flu-like symptoms, or if they are like Misty and more prone to contracting illnesses.

The county has adjusted its attendance policy so there's no conflict about making the right choice.

"We're continuing to monitor our absences on a daily basis to kind of watch and determine where we stand," Devono said. "We believe that there is a virus in the school system, we don't know exactly what that is unless parents call back and confirm, but we are treating all flu cases as if they are an H1N1 virus."

He estimated 10 percent of the students are out sick.

H1N1 flu shot clinics are planned this week through the county health department.

An autopsy will confirm whether Misty is the first swine flu death in Monongalia County. That would make six total for West Virginia.

I am baffled at how in 9 months President Obama was supposed to fix all these problems: H1N1 outbreak, Markets crumbling, Financial institutions running amouk, U.S. automakers barely hanging on because of 30+ years of making JUNK, fighting off the morons who are against universal healthcare. We spend more than $2.5 trillion/year on healthcare, which is quite pathetic! Where was all this heated debate when we were entering 2 wars? Seems more than a little disingeneous to me! By the way, I'm not even a democrat!

As someone who is close to this situation and the family I dont want to place any blame and point fingers, but this is what I have to say. Trust your gut if you think your child has a serious health problem whether its just the common cold or something as serious as H1N1 demand and get the best possible medical treatment you can if one doctor doesnt give you the answer you know in your gut is wrong and your just being pushed along so the next person can be seen at a clinic. In the same breathe listen to what they are telling you to watch out for this is serious issue in our country and we all need to be aware of how to handle it.

Our government should have started finding ways to create newer vaccine technology 25 years ago, because the gov. has known for a long time that this type of virus was coming, no one knew when. They shouldn't have waited until it was too late to start producing these egg based vaccines which take too long!

The Obama Administration is too busy planning Obamas newest golf outing or vacation to worry about the United States H1N1 epidemic.

I've been told that there are more children at Ruby who are VERY ill. The schools have not been very proactive in regards to this outbreak; however, there isn't much they can do. The federal government needs to be making vaccinations for our nation, not relying on the very few companies who do it because the profil margins are so low. Of course there's an abundance of Viagra floating around NCWV, but hardly any vaccinations. Truely amazing how short-sighted, if not downright evil that is. To Misty's family, I'd like to say that our family is heart broken for you and hope that you can find peace in the coming months. You are in our hearts and our thoughts. I only hope your daughter's passing can make some people in NCWV re-evaluate our priorities, because there is nothing more precious, nor important than our children. May God bless her soul!

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