Father of eight-year-old girl who died from flu urges parents to immunise their children

The father of the eight-year-old girl who died from the flu in Melbourne has urged everyone to get their kids immunised after losing their 'little angel'.

People are being urged to get vaccinated and not ignore symptoms after eight-year-old Rosie Andersen became the latest victim of Victoria's horror flu season.

The young girl died at the Angliss Hospital at Upper Ferntree Gully on Friday.

Her father Christian Brealey, in a statement released to The Herald Sun, urged people to immunise their children against the flu.
Rosie Andersen, 8, died after falling ill with the flu in Melbourne.
Rosie Andersen, 8, died after falling ill with the flu in Melbourne. Source: GoFundMe
"We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, loving little angel," Mr Brealey said.

"We urge everyone to get their kids immunised against the flu and ask only that our privacy is respected and our family given time and space to grieve."

Friend of the family, James Bailey, created a page to help raise money.

"His family has suffered a loss this week, losing their precious Rosie Andersen to a simple flu in Melbourne... we are hoping to raise some donations to show how much we care about Christian and his family, and ease some of the burden during this time,' Mr Bailey wrote on the crowdfunding page.
Victorian Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
Victoria's Health Minister Jill Hennessy warns not to dismiss flu symptoms after a girl's death. (AAP) Source: AAP
Her death from the flu follows the death of young dad Ben Ihlow on Father's Day, Health Minister Jill Hennessy said.

"What it does show us is that we have a horror flu season on our hands," she told media on Monday.

The state government says medical staff are working hard to tackle the particularly bad flu season.
There have been more than 13,000 flu cases in Victoria over the past few months, including 95 deaths, many of which were at aged care facilities.

Eight elderly residents died at St John's Retirement Village at Wangaratta in August and early September.


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Published 19 September 2017 3:06am
Updated 19 September 2017 7:16am


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