Naperville North student dies

[title1parent]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=327522&src=76

Naperville North student dies
Labs testing for swine flu, other possibilities
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald

The Naperville North High School community is mourning the loss of freshman Michelle Fahle, 14, who died unexpectedly Thursday morning.

Authorities said they are unsure what caused Michelle's death but she had complained of flu-like symptoms in recent days, according to DuPage County Coroner Pete Siekmann.

Michelle was rushed early Thursday by ambulance to Edward Hospital in Naperville where doctors pronounced the teen's death.

The DuPage County Health Department is working with the Illinois Department of Public Health to test for swine flu, or H1N1 virus, as well as other possibilities, spokesman David Hass said. He expects results Friday morning.

Nasal swabs have been sent to Central DuPage Hospital as well, although Siekmann said results from either lab could take up to five days.

His office's autopsy did not uncover any obvious signs of what led to Michelle's death.

Michelle's classmates flocked to Facebook Thursday, leaving messages about their friend.

Freshman Mary Elliott created a Facebook page in Michelle's honor that has more than 700 members.

"She was really sweet to everybody, always smiling and everyone liked her," Mary said.

The two attended Jefferson Junior High together in addition to North and both were part of a production of "High School Musical" as seventh-graders.

Mary said Michelle was a talented singer.

"She had a sweet voice and she really liked it," Mary said.

At North, Michelle took her vocal talents to one of the choir groups led by choral director Jim Yarbrough.

"Michelle was one of my young singers who had lots of enthusiasm and energy for her craft and classmates," Yarbrough said via e-mail.

Another classmate from both North and Jefferson, Frances Foley, said Michelle also had a talent for writing and a fondness for the German band Tokio Hotel.

"She was always really friendly to everyone, always smiling," Frances said. "She would make everyone's day really bright. She would try to help anyone."

North freshman Amanda Knutson had class with Michelle and after hearing about her death, was inspired to create an online video she posted on YouTube with pictures of the teen and her friends set to the song "Say What You Will" from Damhnait Doyle. Amanda called her classmate bright and talented.

"She didn't deserve this and was one of the sweetest people I've ever met," Amanda said. "I know everyone will miss her a lot."

Naperville North officials on Thursday confirmed a student had died but would not release additional information pending authorization from the family.

Principal Kevin Pobst said a crisis team is in place to help students, staff and families. Students were not in school Thursday and will not return until Tuesday due to parent teacher conferences and Columbus Day.

Daily Herald Staff Writer Christy Gutowski contributed to this report.
_______________________

Very sad for this family, but at the same time very scary regarding the present unknown cause.

[title1parent]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=327855&src=76

Naperville North student's death linked to H1N1 virus
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 10/10/09

A Naperville North High School freshman who died Thursday had H1N1 flu, health officials said Friday.

However, the DuPage County coroner and health department have not determined whether the virus caused 14-year-old Michelle Fahle's death. They will be doing additional tests to determine if there was an underlying condition.

"We don't want to be shortsighted," Coroner Pete Siekmann said. "We're trying to cover the bases."

The health department said it would take at least 10 days for results, but Siekmann said he expects them by as early as noon today.

Michelle's death is the first related to H1N1 in DuPage County, though there have been 19 others in Illinois since April, said Dave Hass, spokesman for the county health department.

Michelle had been experiencing flu-like symptoms for several days and was rushed to Naperville's Edward Hospital by ambulance Thursday morning. Doctors there pronounced her death.

Naperville North students were not in school Thursday and are not scheduled to return until Tuesday due to parent-teacher conferences and the Columbus Day holiday.

Superintendent Mark Mitrovich confirmed all Naperville Unit District 203 schools will be open Tuesday as scheduled based on recommendations from the county health department.

Michelle's classmates set up a Facebook memorial page in her honor that has more than 1,700 members. Friends also posted a video tribute on YouTube.

Those who knew Michelle say she was a talented singer who was sweet, friendly and hardworking.

One of her closest friends, North freshman Alexa Hansen, said Michelle was a typical teenager who loved boys and sleepovers. She looked forward to becoming an artist and a mother.

"She was an amazing artist, and it was too soon for her to go," Alexa said. "She had so many talents that could have helped the world in some way. ... I miss her so much that it feels like my heart has been torn out of my body and I am walking without one."

Students on the Facebook memorial page are discussing wearing black, purple and lime green - Michelle's favorite colors - when they return on Tuesday and placing notes and flowers near her locker.

Visitation for Michelle will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and will be followed by burial at Naperville Cemetery.

Michelle's family asks that donations be made to the choral program at Naperville North, 899 N. Mill St.

H1N1 is a respiratory illness with symptoms that include fever of 100 degrees or greater, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache and feeling tired, according to the county health department.

Mild cases of H1N1 have become widespread both in DuPage County and around the country. There have been more than 1 million cases of the virus in the U.S., according to Hass.

Pete Schubel, an emergency department physician at Edward Hospital, said H1N1 has the same patterns and level of severity as the seasonal flu and while people should be cautious, they shouldn't panic.

"Worry on the same level as you worry about the seasonal flu on an annual basis," Schubel said. "No more, no less."

He said people who experience difficulty breathing, severe vomiting or severe headaches may need to see their doctor for further evaluation.

People with higher risk for complications are those younger than 2 or those with other medical conditions such as chronic cardiovascular problems, congenital heart abnormalities, severe asthma, immune problems or chronic conditions.

To prevent contracting the virus, health officials recommend being vaccinated, covering your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, cleaning your hands often, avoiding contact with those who are sick and staying home if you are sick.

Flu mist vaccine is currently available for priority groups such as health care workers. Vaccinations for the general population are expected to become available later this month.

Hass said school districts make their own decisions about whether to remain open, but the health department does not recommend closing unless there is an unusual level of absenteeism.

The department also says a complete cleaning of school buildings is not necessary but items that come in contact with people's hands, such as railings, doorknobs and keyboards, should be cleaned.

For more information on H1N1, call [phone] or visit protectdupage.org or edward.org.

H1NI; Doctor at Edward says not to panic

[asmodeus]

I think the constant hugging that students now engage in is not helping the situation.

[title1parent]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=328070&src=76

Heart defect contributed to Naperville girl's death
By Matt Arado | Daily Herald 10/10/09

A serious and undiagnosed heart defect was a significant factor in the death of a 14-year-old Naperville girl who also had contracted the H1N1 flu virus, DuPage County officials said Saturday.

In a statement issued Saturday afternoon on the DuPage County coroner's Web site, officials said that Naperville North High School freshman Michelle Fahle was particularly vulnerable to the H1N1 flu because of a "progressive defect" in her heart, a condition she had before becoming infected by the virus.

The coroner's office won't issue a final cause of death until further testing is completed.

"We can't say for sure what the defect is yet," DuPage County Coroner Peter Siekmann said Saturday. "Doctors are working even now to answer that question. But we do know that she had a heart problem that hadn't been diagnosed before."

Fahle had been experiencing flu-like symptoms for several days and was rushed to Naperville's Edward Hospital by ambulance Thursday morning. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Her death has led to an outpouring of grief among the Naperville North community. In one of several tribute pages dedicated to Fahle on the Facebook social networking Web site, friends encouraged students to wear black in her memory when they return to school Tuesday; school's out Monday for Columbus Day.

News about Fahle's death also added to the fears and questions surrounding the H1N1 virus.

Siekmann pointed out that any kind of flu - not just the H1N1 variety - can pose a particular problem for a person with a heart condition. Speaking in general terms, and not specifically about Fahle's case, Siekmann said also that some heart problems can exist without any visible symptoms.

"In cases where there are no symptoms, there would be no reason why a parent would bring his or her child to the doctor for a full cardiac exam," he said.

A visitation for Fahle will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

[title1parent]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=328408&src=76

Police to keep media out of Dist. 203 schools
By Justin Kmitch | Daily Herald 10/13/2009

In a terse e-mail blast to area media outlets Monday afternoon, Naperville Unit District 203 officials threatened to have police arrest any reporters found Tuesday on district grounds.

Spokeswoman Melea Smith said the district wants to ensure students experience a sense of normalcy when returning to classes after the death Thursday of a Naperville North High School freshman.

A weekend autopsy ruled a serious and undiagnosed heart defect was a major factor in the death of Michelle Fahle, who also had contracted the H1N1 flu virus.

"Please understand that it is important for students at Naperville North High School, and other District 203 schools, to be able to resume a normal educational week. To that end, we are asking your cooperation in not interfering with that process. You need to be aware that uniformed police officers and marked squads will be on the NNHS campus on Tuesday morning," Smith wrote. "If media personnel do not honor this request to avoid District 203 properties, a criminal complaint will be filed with the Naperville Police Department."

Smith said school officials had to call police three times Friday to keep media off the property.

"We need to restore calm and order to our school day," Smith said. "Having reporters crawling through our hallways in an attempt to talk to every student is disruptive to that process. We just don't want anyone in that building talking to our kids right now."

Naperville North students have not been in school since Wednesday as a result of parent-teacher conferences and the Columbus Day holiday.

Superintendent Mark Mitrovich confirmed all Naperville Unit District 203 schools will be open Tuesday as scheduled based on recommendations from the DuPage County Health Department.

Police spokesman Mike Anders said two to three officers and at least one sergeant will be at the Naperville North campus on Tuesday.

"The number of officers we send will be directly related to the number of media members who decide to show up," Anders said. "Anything we do will be professional and appropriate for the scenario."

Smith said students are aware of the district's relationship with the Naperville police and she does not believe their presence will detract from the district's goal for a normal school day.

"Certainly everyone is aware of what's gone on here and I don't think a few police cars will be disruptive," she said. "But if we have to choose one disruption over another, we'll take the police cars."

The media ban does not have a set end date and Smith said media presence will be dealt with on a day-to-day, case-by-case basis.

It would not, for example, prevent reporters from covering high school sports or the dedication of the Naperville North swimming pool scheduled for Tuesday, as long as reporters do not speak to students about the H1N1 virus.

Visitation for Michelle will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington St., Naperville. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and will be followed by burial at Naperville Cemetery.

Michelle's family asks that donations be made to the choral program at Naperville North, 899 N. Mill St.

[title1parent]

www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1821312,D203-monitors-H1N1-flu_na101309.article

D203 taking steps to monitor H1N1 flu

October 13, 2009

From Staff Reports
With classes set to resume Tuesday for the first time since the death of a Naperville North freshman who had the H1N1 flu, officials in District 203 are taking extra steps to reassure parents of the precautions put in place to help minimize the spread of flu germs.

In a Talk203 message sent to parents Monday afternoon, several links are provided outlining the district's plan related to H1N1 flu. The e-mail also provides a link to a letter from Superintendent Mark Mitrovich, who said the district is working closely with the DuPage County Health Department to help reduce the spread of influenza in students and staff.

"As the school year progresses, we are experiencing more influenza-like-illness and absentee rates will likely fluctuate. As you may know, influenza is spread easily from person to person and is typically transmitted more in fall and winter when children congregate indoors," Mitrovich wrote. "At this time schools in District 203 are ranging from 3 percent to 5 percent absenteeism due to influenza-like-illness; we will continue to track the situation closely and send daily absence reports to DCHD. When the absentee rate reaches 10 percent (which can be typical during the regular flu season), the DCHD advises school districts to inform parents."

District 203 spokesperson Melea Smith said Monday afternoon that while it's early in the season, the absentee rate is not out of line with what the district might see in a normal flu season.

Mitrovich said the district is taking all of the steps recommended by the health department to prevent and monitor the flu.

Those include encouraging hand washing and continued regular cleaning of high-touch areas such as doors, stair railings and keyboards. The district is also reinforcing the need for staff and students to practice good hygiene, staying home if they are ill until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without fever reducing medicine and seeking medical attention when necessary. In addition, the district has placed alcohol-based hand gel in each classroom, lunchrooms and other public areas within the schools.

"Further, it's important for you to know that when a sick child reports to the school health office, they are isolated from other students and the parents are called to pick up that child. We strongly urge parents to keep their sick child(ren) at home until 24 hours after their fever is gone, without using fever-reducing medications," Mitrovich said. "As per the guidelines provided by the DCHD, District 203 informs parents when there are clusters of any communicable disease (including H1N1) in a building or classroom, or a high rate of absenteeism due to a communicable illness, so that parents can more closely observe their own children."

In his letter, Mitrovich also encourages families to get vaccinated for both the seasonal flu and H1N1, when the vaccine is available.

On Saturday, the DuPage County coroner's office revealed that a serious heart condition strongly contributed to the death of 14-year-old Michelle Fahle, who died Thursday morning. Fatalities due to influenza often happen when there are underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness, the health department said.

[asmodeus]

It would not, for example, prevent reporters from covering high school sports or the dedication of the Naperville North swimming pool scheduled for Tuesday, as long as reporters do not speak to students about the H1N1 virus.

Sounds a bit paranoid to me.

[title1parent]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=328685&src=76

Naperville N. students return to classes without incident
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald 10/14/09

Naperville North High School students returned to class without incident Tuesday as police patrolled the campus to keep media away.

Tuesday was the first day of class since the death last week of freshman Michelle Fahle, 14.

The teen died Oct. 8 and was later found to have an undiagnosed heart defect as well as the H1N1 flu.

Some students wore special shirts or ribbons in Michelle's honor and counselors were available throughout the day. Teachers read a note to students in their individual classrooms regarding Michelle's death and observed a moment of silence.

Students had been out of school Monday for Columbus Day and the previous Thursday and Friday for parent-teacher conferences.

Outside the school, five police officers were on campus from 6 to 8:15 a.m. to protect North from reporters. Naperville Unit District 203 officials said they felt any media presence would be a disruption for students and threatened to arrest reporters or photographers who set foot on school grounds.

The police presence included two uniformed patrol officers, two school resource officers and a sergeant who oversees the resource officers.

Cmdr. Mike Anders said there were no arrests or citations. He read a statement from Sgt. Kathy Anderson, who was at the scene.

"We appreciate the response by Chicago media to respect the request sent by 203," Anderson said in the statement. "No incident occurred with morning arrival of students and we continue to ask for the cooperation of the media in respecting the Naperville North High School community and educational process."

Anders said the patrol officers who spent their morning at North were available to respond to emergencies elsewhere in the city. District 203 will pay the police department $275 for overtime costs.

District 203 spokeswoman Melea Smith said the patrols helped the school community return to normal. She does not expect the additional police presence to continue.

In the meantime, the district is keeping an eye on illnesses at its schools. North experienced a higher number of absences Tuesday than it averaged last week, Smith said, but is within normal range for a winter day. The number of reported fevers is unchanged from last week.

Funeral services for Michelle are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Home, 516 S. Washington, Naperville.

Michelle's family asks that donations be made to the choral program at Naperville North. Checks should be made to the Naperville Education Foundation with a notation they are in memory of Michelle. Donations can be sent to 203 W. Hillside Road, Naperville, IL 60540.