Health officials say 5-year-old is first confirmed flu death

<p>State health officials said a 5-year-old Atlanta-area girl who died of complications from pneumonia was the states first confirmed flu-related death this year.</p><p>Antonia Theresa Watkins of Sandy Springs was buried Thursday after she died of complications from pneumonia, which she acquired while suffering from the flu, officials said.</p><p>Test results are pending on three other possible flu-related deaths of children in the state, said Richard Quartarone, spokesman for the Georgia Division of Public Health.</p><p>About three dozen children from around the country have died from the flu this season.</p><p>The Georgia children lived in various parts of the state and their ages ranged from infant to adolescent. Their deaths are being investigated as flu-related because of their symptoms or suspicions of medical examiners, said Quartarone.</p><p>Medical College of Georgia officials this week voiced concerns that children could develop severe complications from drug-resistant bacterial infections after acquiring the flu. Several children around the country have come down with this kind of infection and three have died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p>This seasons flu activity has increased in Georgia, prompting health officials earlier this week to upgrade the states outbreak level to widespread, the highest outbreak level in the nation.</p><p>Information from: Constitution</p>