South Side 13-year-old Girl Died Of H1N1

City of Milwaukee has the most cases of H1N1, compared to other metropolitan cities in the nation

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 16, 2009

Milwaukee - City health officials reported the death of Gisela Alanis, 13, who became the latest victim to the A (H1N1) deadly influenza virus. The Milwaukee Medical Examiner report says Alanis was admitted to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin on May 27 due to complications related to asthma. Alanis later developed respiratory difficulties, fever and was diagnosed with A (H1N1) and died last Sunday, July 12 from the influenza virus. She became the fourth victim of the Swine flu in Milwaukee and the fifth person to die from A (H1N1) in the State of Wisconsin.
Alanis, an eighth-grader attended Notre Dame Middle School in the South side of Milwaukee, and missed the June 5th graduation. Her father accepted Alanis’ diploma.
Family members didn’t know how sick she was because she suffered from asthma, and doctors from the Children's Hospital never notified the parents that Alanis had A (H1N1). She might not have been tested for the influenza virus. The family first found out about the cause of her death when reporters went to the family asking questions.
On Wednesday, her eighth-grade classmates held a bake sale fundraiser to help Alanis family with funeral expenses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that Wisconsin has 6,037 both confirmed and probable swine flu cases. City Commissioner of Health Bevan K. Baker also reported that Milwaukee by itself has 3,268 cases. Milwaukee case counts have been declining, but are expected to rise, according to health officials. “We're also expecting the numbers to ramp back up in the fall,” Baker said on Tuesday.
As of July 10th, the State of New York reported 2582 of confirmed and probable swine flu cases, with 52 reported deaths from A (H1N1). New York has the highest deaths from the influenza virus than any other state in the country.