7-year-old Fontana boy dies of swine flu

FONTANA (AP) • A 7-year-old San Bernardino County boy has died from complications of swine flu, three days after being sent home from school after falling ill.

A county health officer on Wednesday confirms that the boy died Nov. 5 at a hospital in Upland.

The mother tells the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin that Joey Holt of Fontana was sent home from school on Nov. 2 because of a fever but it went away. Jessica Holt says her son later became pale and lethargic a couple days later.

She called the ambulance when he took a turn for the worse on Nov. 5.

She says the boy, who had asthma, had dreamed of becoming a doctor.

California health officials say nearly 300 people have died from swine flu complications in the state this year.