Ohio Records First Pediatric Flu Death of Season as 16-Year-Old Succumbs
A 16-year-old Ohio girl has died from influenza, prompting state health officials to declare flu activity widespread and urge vaccination.
A Family’s Nightmare
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For most teenagers, February means basketball playoffs and whispered plans for spring break. For the Reynolds family, it now marks the month they lost their 16-year-old daughter, Lily, to an illness many dismiss as “just the flu.”
Ohio health officials confirmed Wednesday that Lily’s death is the state’s first pediatric influenza fatality this season, jolting parents and pediatricians alike.
‘She Was Healthy One Day, Gone the Next’
Lily, a junior at Westerville North High School, began feeling ill last Monday with a mild fever and cough. By Thursday she was rushed to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in acute respiratory distress. She died Friday evening.
“We thought we’d get fluids and go home,” her mother, Claire Reynolds, said through tears. “No one believes the flu can do this.”
State on High Alert
The Ohio Department of Health reports flu activity is now “widespread” across 70 % of counties, with 1,842 hospitalizations since October—double last year’s pace.
Key Numbers
- 1 pediatric death confirmed
- 1,842 flu-related hospitalizations statewide
- 70 % of Ohio counties reporting high activity
- Vaccination rate among children: only 52 %
Vaccine Uptake Lags
State epidemiologist Dr. Anya Patel warns the dominant strain this season, Influenza A(H3N2), notoriously hits teens and seniors hardest. “We still have vaccine in stock,” she urged. “It’s not too late.”
Schools Respond
Westerville North canceled weekend extracurriculars and will host a vaccination clinic Monday. Superintendent Dr. Mary Beth Stevens sent a robocall to families: “Our hearts are broken; we must protect one another.”
Parents Grapple with Guilt and Fear
At a Sunday-afternoon vigil, friends released purple balloons—Lily’s favorite color—outside the school stadium.
“People keep saying she must have had some hidden condition,” family friend Dana Morris said. “She didn’t. She danced competitively. This was the flu.”
What Doctors Want You to Know
Children’s Hospital pediatric intensivist Dr. Luis Ortega stresses that rapid deterioration is possible. “We see kids go from mild symptoms to ICU in 24 hours. Antivirals like Tamiflu work best within 48 hours of onset—come in early.”
Looking Ahead
State health officials expect peak activity in the next two to three weeks and urge Ohioans to:
- Get vaccinated immediately
- Stay home when sick
- Seek prompt care for difficulty breathing or persistent high fever
The Reynolds family hopes their loss spurs action. “If our story saves one child,” Claire said, “Lily’s voice will still be heard.”