By JON BAKER

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island Department of Health officials confirmed Tuesday that the 12-year-old Lincoln Middle School student who died Saturday night at Hasbro Children's Hospital did, in fact, have the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu.

Dr. David R. Gifford, Department of Health Director, said the girl — seventh-grader Skyla J. Reposa-Alves — had developed H1N1 not long before Saturday.
“The tests came in positive (on Tuesday); she had exhibited flu-like symptoms, though I'm not sure for how long,” said Annemarie Beardsworth, spokesperson for the Department of Health. “It does work fast, and that's one of the things we're trying to find out – why? We know from past experiences that people who have underlying medical conditions are at greater risk for developing complications from the flu — that is, any flu.
“But this also can affect healthy people,” she added. “The good news is we have the vaccine, and we're beginning to get out to the schools to treat students. People should understand the best way to avoid the H1N1 is to wash their hands often (with soap and warm water), use hand sanitizers and cover their faces when they cough or sneeze.”
Beardsworth stated this is a new and different strain of the flu, and maintained approximately 36,000 people across the United States perish from the less serious, typical version of influenza. That number translates to about 200 in Rhode Island.
Department of Health officials also stated a woman between 40 and 50 years of age and from Providence County died Monday of mysterious causes, and they are checking via autopsy if the H1N1 strain had penetrated the woman's immune system. They also stated she had several underlying illnesses, and had been admitted to an unnamed hospital this past weekend.
“That may prove to be H1N1, but we don't know,” as autopsies have not been completed, she said. “There were enough tests on Skyla to know.”
When asked if the Department of Health would push up the vaccine date at Lincoln Middle School, currently slated for Dec. 14 (with the high school set for Dec. 10), Beardsworth indicated there are no plans at this point in time.
“We've got more than 100 schools statewide which are experiencing more absenteeism than is usually the case due to flu-like symptoms,” she noted. “If we said we were going to conduct clinics, we'd essentially be chasing our tail. We know that schools are scheduled for December, and – obviously – we wish (all) schools could be first, but our schedule is dictated by the amount of vaccine we have.”
She also revealed the Department of Health receives a shipment every week.
“The schedule was created by a random computer software program,” she offered. “There is no favoritism involved. The computer makes those decisions.”
Beardsworth said she hadn't spoken personally with Repose-Alves' family, but said, “I can't imagine what they're experiencing right now … I know Dr. Gifford has. We wouldn't want none of this to happen to anybody.”
Superintendent of Schools Georgia Fortunato sent a press release to media on Monday morning, one which stated, “It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you that a Lincoln Middle School student passed away at Hasbro Children's Hospital over the weekend … Please keep the family of this student in your thoughts and prayers.”
Fortunato also said Monday evening that the “Grief Team” from Lincoln's Special Services Office would provide counseling to students and staff if needed the rest of the week, or longer.
Stated Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond: “On behalf of the town, we express our heartfelt condolences to the family, and we'll be offering any services we can to help it through this tremendously difficult time.
“We're letting the school department address the children, the classmates, and parents,” he added. “I know there are fears among the parents of children, and it important for the town to address those concerns through the school department. The superintendent (Fortunato) has done an excellent job with that, and also working with the Department of Health.”
Sadly, the funeral for Reposa-Alves will take place on her 13th birthday (8:30 a.m., Friday) at Bellows-Falso Funeral Home, 160 River Road, Lincoln. The wake has been scheduled for Thursday between 4-8 p.m. at the same site.