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State: At Least 6 Children Have Died in Texas From Flu
State: At Least 6 Children Have Died in Texas From Flu 1/12/13
January 12, 2013
DALLAS - A 6-year-old North Texas girl who died of the flu has been
laid to rest.
The Dallas County medical examiner confirmed that Tahlia Johnson's death was
flu-related. Five other children's deaths in Texas were also flu-related since
last fall.
At a Dallas funeral home Friday, Tahlia's white coffin was adorned with
flowers. Stuffed animals, a bicycle and other toys surrounded the casket.
She died Tuesday at her home. She was taken to a Dallas-area emergency room
Monday night, but her family says she wasn't tested for the flu. Relatives say
Tahlia was sent home with an allergy medication and pain reliever.
It's unclear if she'd been vaccinated for the flu.
State health officials say more than half of Texas has cases, and the
intensity of flu-like symptoms is high.