Perth family mourns daughter after sudden flu death

A family in Brabham, Perth, is devastated after their 13-year-old daughter, Sharney Lee Mitchel, succumbed to the flu. She passed away at home five days after being discharged from the hospital. Her parents discovered her unresponsive in bed around midday last Sunday, August 18. Despite calling paramedics, Sharney could not be revived.

Sharney was admitted to Joondalup Health Campus on August 12 with flu-like symptoms. Tests confirmed she had contracted influenza A. She stayed overnight and was discharged the next day. The family is puzzled by how quickly her condition worsened at home and questions the hospital’s decision to discharge her while she still had symptoms.

West Australia Police found no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. The Health Department awaits post-mortem results to confirm the exact cause. A Ramsay Health representative stated Sharney was discharged because she had no fever and a normal chest X-ray at that time.

Her family hopes sharing her story will highlight the seriousness of the flu. Seven people have died from the flu in West Australia this year. Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness affecting people worldwide. Australian health authorities stress that vaccination is the best protection against the flu. They recommend annual flu vaccines for everyone aged six months and older to combat the most common strains.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) identifies four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C, and D. Influenza A and B cause seasonal epidemics almost every winter in the United States.

The flu spreads easily through droplets in the air and on surfaces after an infected person coughs or sneezes. While often underestimated, the flu can lead to severe complications, including pneumonia, respiratory issues, and even death.