Seven Year Old Whitfield County Girl Dies From H1N1 Virus

Swine flu worries resurface after the H1N1 virus gets the blame for a death in Whitfield County.

The Health Department confirms a child died this morning after being hospitalized.

It's the third death in our area.

Tammy Watts, Mother, "I think it's sad."

News of the Swine flu death spread quickly in Whitfield County, leaving heart break and worry behind.

 Kim Nguyen, Mother, "Are you worried that your child will get it? Yes I am my goodness yes."

Jennifer Moorer with the North Georgia Health District tells News 12 a 7 year old girl from Whitfield County died Wednesday morning after being in the hospital.

She says the child didn't have a known underlying medical condition.

Jennifer Moorer, North Georiga Health District, "It's important that people know that it's very unusual first of all for there to even be a death from this strain of the flu let alone that there be a death without there being an underlying medical condition."

She urges parents not to panic and rush their kids to the doctor's office or emergency room if they show signs of the flu.

Moorer, "You may not even have H1N1 and you might already be sick and your immune system is weakened and you're exposing yourself to the virus but you're also exposing others to the virus just in case you have it."

Moorer encourages everyone to get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu shot, which should be in the area sometime this month.

Children, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses should be first inline.

Moorer, "Anything that will build your immune system is going to help you combat the H1N1 virus as well."

Still parents we spoke with can't help but worry

Tammy Watts, Mother, "I have one sick at home so going over the symptoms you start over worrying that the little cold before you're like go to bed and you'll be all right but now you start over worrying about everything."

and wonder.

Blake Foster, Father, "I'm a little more nervous simply because it hasn't been out long enough for us to know a whole lot about it so every precaution you can take I'm taking it."

Given the timing of the swine flu case, the Daily Citizen newspaper is reporting on the death of a second grade student.

Candy Chen went to City Park School.

School principal Rick Little called her an "amazing young lady," and says she always had a smile on her face.

The news of her death comes at the same time as the announcement of a young swine flu victim in Whitfield county.

For more on this story, check out Thursday's paper at your favorite news stand.