A Naples Central School District sixth-grader has died of complications from the flu.
The Ontario County Health Department confirms the death, the first child to die from the flu in Ontario County for ten years, and the fifth influenza-related death of a child in New York State this year.
The Naples Central School District says 11-year-old Madeline Barton got sick on Sunday night, and died Wednesday night at Strong Memorial Hospital. A GoFundMe page started by family friends says the Influenza A developed into encephalitis, causing brain activity to cease.
The school district says school counselors and staff have been brought in to talk with students having trouble processing what’s happened…and they offer their condolences and support to the Barton family.