N.J. student’s mystery death raises fear of H1N1

He went to classes at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly every day last week and showed no sign of illness, school officials said.

But on Saturday, 17-year-old Andre Mendez's temperature shot up to 104 degrees and he was having convulsions when paramedics arrived, according to the officials.

Mendez, a sophomore, died at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly later that day, school authorities said today, leaving health officials with a mystery they hope to solve tomorrow or Wednesday when lab tests are to be released by the state.

News of the death saddened students and parents and set off concerns today that Mendez may have had the H1N1 virus that state health officials say has claimed 18 lives in New Jersey since the first case in June.

"Though there may be rumors, the cause of death is unconfirmed," said Michael Moskalski, the high school superintendent and principal. "H1N1 is a possibility, but we're awaiting the results from the cultures and testing."

Deaths involving the virus typically come days after a person is infected and are caused when his or her lungs fill with fluid, health officials said.

Those from the seasonal flu often occur one or two weeks after a person's initial infection, because the person has developed a secondary bacterial infection, such as a staph infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The test results will be released to the Burlington County Health Department, which will share them with school officials.

In the meantime, Moskalski said that he will ask the school board at a meeting tomorrow night to authorize a school-based clinic to provide H1N1 vaccinations, probably in the gymnasium.

If approved, the shots would likely be given by the county health department by the end of November, he said.

"We have been sanitizing hard surfaces weekly and that will be increased to nightly so we can be sure the buildings will be clean," Moskalski said. But the flu "is spread through the air so that might not make a difference.

"We're doing everything that has been recommended," he said. "The goal this fall is to keep the schools open.

News of Mendez's death was shared with the students and staff members over the school intercom and counselors were made available.

"We have a crisis-intervention team that goes into place to provide the counseling services in a safe room for all grieving students," said Moskalski.

"If additional resources are needed, we can call on other districts to send people."

According to school staff, Mendez was in class all last week and appeared to be "fine on Friday. They didn't notice anything unusual and he didn't go to the nurse's office," the superintendent said.

The Burlington County health Department in Westampton will hold H1N1 flu shot clinics to vaccinate residents in priority groups from 2 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 6, 13 and 20, said Loretta O'Donnell, a county spokeswoman.

The groups include children 6 months to 5 years old, pregnant woman, caregivers of children and health care workers.

Vaccinations will be given throughout the Mount Laurel school system tomorrow through Thursday, O'Donnell said.

Additional clinics will be scheduled as the vaccine becomes available.

"This is a long-term campaign that will continue for months until everyone who wants an H1N1 vaccination has received one," said county Public Health Coordinator Robert Gogats.

Contact staff writer Edward Colimore at 856-779-3833 or ecolimore@phillynews.com.