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Heartbreak As 'beautiful' Mum-of-13, 47, Dies Suddenly After Catching Flu
A MUM-of-13 tragically passed away after a bout of flu turned into deadly pneumonia.
Julie Theobald, 47, fought for her life for two weeks before succumbing to the lung infection on June 13.
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Julie Theobald, 47, passed away after a nasty bout of flu turned into pneumoniaCredit: gofundme4
She left behind her husband Billy and 13 childrenCredit: gofundme4
Julie battled for her life in the ICU for two weeks before passing away on June 13Credit: gofundmeThe "beautiful" mum from Victoria, Australia, left behind 13 children - aged between seven and 31 years - and her husband Billy.
"We've all been extremely shocked and heartbroken of this news, we could have never imagined loosing our mum this early on," her daughter Jessica wrote on behalf of the family in a GoFundMe.
Julie passed away just weeks after a "terrible" bout of flu turned into pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by an infection.
Most people recover from pneumonia in a matter of weeks, but babies, older people and those suffering with heart or lung conditions are at higher risk of getting seriously ill.
Jessica confirmed that her mum had been suffering from underlying health conditions.
She wrote: "Unfortunately our Mum was only 47 years young and had been in the ICU fighting for the last two weeks due to catching a terrible flu turning into pneumonia and underlying health conditions."
Julie was transferred to Melbourne on the 10th of June via plane - "her first ever plane ride," Jessica said - in the hopes she could be saved.
Tragically, the mum passed away just three days later, leaving her family deeply shocked.
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Toddler dies after doctors discover 'twin sister's foetus' in her SKULLJessica put together a GoFunMe appeal on behalf of her dad and siblings to raise money to cover the cost of Julie's funeral.
"This is our last opportunity to give her the best send off possible," she said.
GP gives their verdict on cheap cold and flu home remedies"No one ever likes reaching out for help and we certainly don't expect to raise this total amount but we are really hoping to lessen the burden for our father and the large costs of a funeral."
The fundraiser has now surpassed the family's $13,000 target.
In a update to the original post, Jessica thanked everyone who'd contributed to the fund.
"We are so overwhelmed and in shock at how many people have taken out of their own pockets to help our family.
"I cannot thank each and every one of you enough, in such a dark tragic time for our family this has brought us so much happiness.
"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
Julie's tragic death comes as New South Wales residents were warned of "triple threat" of surging flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)cases.
On June 8, health authorities warned that flu activity was continuing to rise, "with the number of presentations to emergency departments increasing and the number of influenza notifications also increasing".
Flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly and can cause both mild and severe illness.
Most people will recover within a matter of days or weeks, but some can develop complications such as pneumonia.
Symptoms of the flu and when to get help
FLU will often get better on its own in a matter of days or weeks, but it can make some people seriously ill.
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
Source: NHS
According to the American Lung Association: "Influenza is a common cause of pneumonia, especially among younger children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those with certain chronic health conditions or who live in a nursing home.
"Most cases of flu never lead to pneumonia, but those that do tend to be more severe and deadly."
Other serious complications triggered by the flu include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle tissues, and multi-organ failure, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes.
In UK, flu activity usually peaks between December and March.
A recent UK Health Security Agency report revealed that the 2023/24 flu season had lasted longer than the previous year's, "but peak activity was lower".
The best way to protect yourself from flu is by getting a vaccine. They're offered on the NHS every year in the autumn and winter to help protect people against illness and complications.
Eligible groups are able to get the jab for free.
For the upcoming season, pregnant women and children will be offered the free vaccine from September 1, while adults aged 65 and over and medically vulnerable groups will be able to get theirs from October 3.
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Her daughter Jessica confirmed that Julie had been suffering from underlying health conditionsCredit: gofundme4th Human Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US: What To Know About Symptoms
A fourth person in the United States has tested positive for avian influenza, aka bird flu, amid an ongoing global outbreak of the virus affecting poultry and other animals.
Health officials recently confirmed a dairy worker in Colorado became infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), linked to a multi-state outbreak in dairy cows, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. The patient experienced mild pink eye symptoms and has since recovered.
Since March, H5N1 avian influenza has spread to over 139 dairy cattle herds in 12 U.S. States. A dairy worker in Texas and two in Michigan have also tested positive for H5N1.
News of the fourth U.S. Case comes less than a month after the World Health Organization confirmed a person in Mexico died after becoming infected with avian influenza A (H5N2), which was the first laboratory-confirmed human case of H5N2 reported globally. Additionally, a child in Australia was recently infected with bird flu.
Bird flu is a disease caused by infection with avian influenza A viruses, which occur naturally among wild aquatic birds and circulate among poultry, TODAY.Com previously reported.
Occasionally, bird flu viruses spread to mammals and, rarely, to humans. No known human-to-human spread has occurred with the current H5N1 strains spreading in the U.S. Or H5N2 in Mexico.
Based on available information, the WHO assesses the current risk to the general public posed by bird flu to be "low." However, the recent human cases and ongoing outbreak has sounded the alarm among officials in the U.S. And abroad, who are monitoring bird flu viruses closely.
4th human cases of bird flu in the U.S.The latest case of bird flu in the U.S. Was in a Colorado dairy worker who was being monitored after being exposed to cows infected with H5N1, the CDC said in a press release.
Two farmworkers in Michigan tested positive in May, and one dairy worker in Texas tested positive in April. None of the earlier cases are connected and all occurred at different farms, the CDC said.
The human case in Texas was the first time this strain of H5N1 — referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) — had been detected in cows and the first instance of cow-to-human transmission, according to the CDC.
"The current bird flu strain that we're concerned with, H5N1, has been circulating around the world for quite some time," Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, previously told TODAY.Com.
The Colorado case, the first Michigan case, and the Texas case all reported mild conjunctivitis (pink eye) as their only symptom. The second Michigan farmworker reported eye symptoms, as well as a cough and fever, officials said — the first person in the U.S. To report upper respiratory symptoms associated with the bird flu.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain causing the U.S. Outbreak is severe and often fatal in birds, but appears to be mild in cows.
"Based on the information available at this time, this case does not change CDC's current A(H5N1) bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. General public. The risk to members of the general public who do not have exposure to infected animals remains low," the CDC said.
Fatal case of bird flu in MexicoIn late May, authorities in Mexico reported a confirmed human case of H5N2 to global authorities. The patient was the first human have been infected with an avian H5 virus in Mexico, per the WHO.
The 59-year-old resident died in a hospital in Mexico City in April after developing a fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea, nausea and "general malaise," per the WHO.
The victim reportedly had multiple underlying health conditions and had already been bedridden for three weeks for other reasons prior to developing symptoms of bird flu.
The source of exposure is unknown, and the victim had no known contact with infected animals, but H5N2 viruses have been detected in poultry in multiple states in Mexico, the WHO said.
Respiratory samples collected from the victim later tested positive for avian influenza A (H5N2), the first human case reported globally. There were no further cases identified, and all potential contacts of the victim are being monitored, the WHO.
What are the symptoms of bird flu?Bird flu infections in humans can range in severity, experts note. Some people have no symptoms at all or only a mild flu-like illness, while others develop severe disease requiring hospitalization, according to the CDC.
"It can be a serious infection with a high mortality rate," said Schaffner.
According to the CDC, reported signs and symptoms of bird flu include:
Bird flu in humans may look similar to seasonal influenza flu or upper respiratory infection. In severe cases, bird flu can lead to pneumonia, respiratory failure and other complications, TODAY.Com previously reported.
The case of H5N1 in a child in Australia was a severe infection, but the child fully recovered. Victorian health officials did not release additional details about the patient's symptoms.
All four of the human cases in the U.S. Have reported eye redness and conjunctivitis, with one patient reporting a cough and a fever, and were treated with antivirals. They have since recovered.
The only other human case of H5N1 in the U.S., which was reported in Colorado in 2022, was a mild infection as well.
An infection with bird flu viruses cannot be diagnosed by signs or symptoms alone, the CDC says. Laboratory testing is required.
How does bird flu transmit to humans?Transmission of bird flu viruses to humans is very rare. According to the WHO, since 2003, there have been 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 in 23 countries. Most human cases worldwide have been caused by H7N9, highly pathogenic H5N1, or H5N6 viruses, per the CDC.
Avian influenza can spread from infected birds to humans in a few ways, per the CDC:
Infected birds can shed the virus in their saliva, nasal secretions, mucus and feces, TODAY.Com previously reported. People can become infected when the virus particles get into the mouth, nose, eyes or are inhaled, says Schaffner.
Humans typically become infected with bird flu viruses through close, unprotected contact with an infected bird.
When it comes to the dairy workers with conjunctivitis, the CDC noted in a press release that "it's not known exactly how eye infections result from avian influenza exposures."
"It may be from contamination of the eye(s), potentially with a splash of contaminated fluid, or touching the eye(s) with something contaminated with A(H5N1) virus, such as a hand. High levels of A(H5N1) virus have been found in unpasteurized milk from H5N1-infected cows."
Human-to-human transmission of bird flu viruses is extremely rare. The few cases that have been documented have occurred primarily through prolonged, unprotected contact between a symptomatic person and a family member or caregiver, per the CDC.
"The virus doesn't have the (genetic) capacity to spread easily from person to person," says Schaffner.
However, in an April press conference, the chief scientist of the World Health Organization called the risk of the bird flu spreading to humans "an enormous concern," and warned about the potential for the virus to acquire the ability to spread more efficiently between people. Scientists are closely monitoring bird flu viruses for any changes.
Preventing bird fluThere is no evidence that humans can get bird flu from chicken, eggs, or beef that's been properly prepared and cooked, and it is safe to drink pasteurized milk, experts say.
The risk of getting bird flu is low, but the CDC recommends people:
What Are The Symptoms Of Influenza B?
High fever, coughing, body aches, chills, and fatigue are possible symptoms of influenza B, but they may also indicate other conditions. A healthcare professional can provide an accurate diagnosis.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory infection caused by flu viruses.
There are four main types of influenza. Types A, B, and C affect humans, while influenza D mainly affects cattle.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), types A and B are responsible for the majority of seasonal illnesses, such as in winter.
Although they're both similar, influenza B can only pass from human to human. They can also be equally severe, challenging a previous misconception that type B tends to be a milder disease.
Influenza B accounts for just over 23% of influenza illnesses around the world.
It's highly contagious and, in more serious cases, may lead to life threatening complications.
Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of influenza B.
Early detection of an influenza infection can help prevent the virus from worsening and help you find the best course of treatment.
The most common symptoms of type B influenza include:
Similar to the common cold, influenza B can cause respiratory symptoms, including:
However, influenza respiratory symptoms may be more severe and can lead to other health complications.
For instance, if you have asthma, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests the flu may worsen your symptoms and even trigger an attack.
If left untreated, or in more severe cases, influenza B may cause:
A common sign of the flu is a fever that could reach as high as 106ºF (41.1ºC). This may last up to 4 days, according to the CDC. However, it's important to get medical attention if your fever doesn't improve after 1 week.
In addition, you may also experience:
In rare cases, the influenza B virus may cause gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, such as:
The authors of a 2015 review note the research is mixed on whether GI symptoms are more common in influenza B than type A.
It's important to note that GI symptoms caused by influenza aren't a sign of viral gastroenteritis, a viral infection commonly referred to as the stomach flu.
Several risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing complications that could require medical treatment. High risk groups include:
Research has also found that children with influenza B have a higher risk of developing severe complications or requiring hospitalization than those with influenza A.
If you experience flu symptoms and have any risk factors, get medical attention immediately. Early treatment could greatly reduce your risk of complications.
In most cases, influenza will go away on its own without medical treatment.
However, a doctor may prescribe antiviral medications if your symptoms are severe, gradually worsen, or you're at a high risk of developing complications.
Antiviral medications for influenza include:
Getting the flu vaccine may also help prevent you from developing severe flu symptoms and any complications.
According to the CDC, the flu vaccine could help reduce your risk of developing influenza by up to 60%, especially if you're at risk of complications. The vaccine is most effective against types B and A.
Some additional tips to help speed up your recovery may include:
The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a primary care doctor or pediatrician.
Learn more about treatments for the flu.
How long does influenza B last?Influenza B may last between 2 and 8 days, according to a 2020 review.
Is flu A or B worse?Research suggests influenza A and B may both cause serious symptoms and complications.
How contagious is influenza B?Like influenza A, influenza B is highly contagious. If you have the flu, it's important to practice proper hygiene to prevent transmitting the virus to someone else. This includes staying away from others, washing your hands, wearing a mask, and covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
What is the best treatment for influenza B?In many cases, home remedies like drinking plenty of fluids and resting is enough to help treat influenza B. However, you may require antiviral medications if you're at risk of developing complications or you experience severe symptoms.
Type B influenza can cause you to experience symptoms more severe than a common cold.
In some cases, this infection resolves without the need for medical attention.
However, if your symptoms worsen or don't improve after a few days, visit a doctor. They could provide a treatment plan to help prevent complications.
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