Gus G. Sentementes
Health officials sound alert after death of boy
After the unexplained death of a 9-year-old boy, the Baltimore Health Department has sent a letter to parents of students at Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary School alerting them to a common virus that may have contributed to the child's illness. The medical examiner has not determined the student's cause of death. Preliminary tests showed that the boy had an adenovirus, which typically causes the common cold, sore throats and ear infections. The virus is rarely fatal, but in people with a history of underlying respiratory problems, it can be serious. The boy, who had a history of asthma, became short of breath suddenly on Thursday. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Children's Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Loren McCaskill, the principal at Harris, sent a letter to parents this week saying that a school psychologist and social worker are available to speak to children and parents.
