The Calgary Sun: Flu shot suspect in death
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Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Flu shot suspect in death
By BILL KAUFMANN, CALGARY SUN
The grieving family of a 22-month-old Calgary girl who died mysteriously are wondering if the tot
suffered a fatal reaction to a flu vaccination.
Relatives say on Dec. 30, Emma Bealing came down with a high fever, then suffered multiple seizures
and died Sunday night at the Alberta Children's Hospital after her parents consented to unhook their
daughter from life support.
"She died in her dad's (Douglas's) arms," said Emma's aunt, Joanne Bealing, yesterday.
Said Anthony Bealing, Emma's uncle: "No parent should have to decide how their child dies."
The seizures "came out of the blue" said the uncle, adding Emma was placed on life support
last Tuesday.
Her brain, he said, subsequently experienced severe swelling consistent with the condition Acute
Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM).
Along with bacterial or viral infections, ADEM can be caused by a severe response to inoculation --
a reaction that can lie dormant for two to three weeks.
Seizures are one symptom of an adverse reaction to inoculation, according to the Canadian Medical
Association.
A family member said the girl had received a flu vaccination about a month ago.
"(Vaccination as a cause) is only one theory we're looking at," said Anthony.
"We wish the doctors did know for sure but they don't."
He said Calgary Health Region officials told them an autopsy will be done to determine what led to
the tragedy.
The CHR wouldn't comment on the case.
Douglas Bealing and his wife Maureen had overcome medical challenges to have both Emma and her older
brother, Harrison, 6, said the girl's aunt, Joanne.
"It's just extremely tragic -- this couldn't come to a more loving or undeserving little
family," she said.
"Emma had a good personality even at 22 months and a good sense of humour."
She said the death that's shocked and devastated the family now has struck fear in her own
household.
"I have a six-year-old and I'm going to be paranoid with every little fever she has," said Joanne.
Late last month, Jayden Tucker, 2, of Airdrie died after what might have been complications arising
from the flu.
Meanwhile, a three-year-old Nova Scotia girl died on the weekend from what health officials believe
was the flu, the province's chief medical officer said yesterday.
"It is rare for an otherwise healthy child to get severely ill with influenza," Dr. Jeff Scott said.
So far this season, there have been three confirmed cases of the flu causing or contributing to the
death of a child in Canada -- two in Ontario and one in British Columbia.
To date, three other cases are under investigation.