Florida boy, 11, dies from rare flu complication as states brace for severe flu season

• Anthony Garcia of Bradenton complained of a headache and fever in November
• He was later diagnosed with Influenza A but later had trouble breathing and developed fluid in his lungs
• Two preschool-age children in Virginia were confirmed dead from the flu Tuesday
• The flu season is shaping up to be particularly severe in states like Indiana, Pennsylvania and Minnesota

By Pete D'amato for MailOnline

Published: 00:27 EST, 24 December 2014 | Updated: 00:29 EST, 24 December 2014

An 11-year-old Florida boy described as healthy and athletic passed away Wednesday following a month of being on life support after his heart stopped due to a rare flu complication.

Officials confirm that Tony Garcia's death is the third confirmed flu-related death in the state during what is shaping up to be a harsh flu season in many states.

Frances Flores told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that her son hadn't been sick in more than two years and was actively involved in athletics, especially baseball and football.

Passed away: An 11-year-old Florida boy described as healthy and athletic died Wednesday following a month of being on life support from coming down with a rare flu complication

Tony's condition, she said, which began with complaints of a headache in November, deteriorated with shocking swiftness.

The boy developed a fever that weekend and Flores says she gave him a Motrin. After his condition failed to improve, she took him to a pediatrician, who diagnosed him with Influenza A.

He was sent home to rest and recover, but after a night where he had trouble breathing, Flores drove Tony to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg.

There, doctors struggle to identify why he was experiencing such symptoms. They finally settled on a diagnosis of 'necrotizing bronchial pneumonia,' a rare flu-related complication.

Physicians tried to drain the fluid building up in his lungs, but during surgery Tony's heart stopped and he was put on life support before dying about a month later.

'He fought really hard,' his mother said.

In Virginia, two preschool-age children were confirmed to have died Monday. All pediatric deaths are required to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control.

The 2014-2015 flu season is expected to be harsh in several states, with Minnesota saying the outbreak is the worst in four years.

Athlete: Frances Flores said her son hasn't been sick in more than two years and was actively involved in athletics, especially baseball and football

CBS reports that as of Monday, more than 300 Minnesotans had come down with the flu, up from 22 in 2013, and one church had to postpone its Nativity play.

'Mary was sick, Gabrielle the angel was sick, a couple wisemen, a shepherd or two. We were running out of people,' said Living Hope Evangelical Free Church pastor Lon Bjornrud.

Pennsylvania confirmed its first flu death of the year on Friday when Downingtown West High School senior Andrew Specht died from complications of the flu.

Another resident of Chester County died Friday after being diagnosed with the flu, though officials are waiting until tests confirm the death was caused by the flu.

In Allegheny County, there were 838 confirmed cases as of December 20, up from about 200 at the same date in 2013.

'What makes this year a little different is what you might hear about the virus drifting and the current vaccine not being able to handle it,' infectious disease expert John Goldman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Physicians say that the 'drift' occurred because the virus mutated slightly between when the vaccine was crafted and now, lowering its effectiveness to around 50 to 60 percent.

Doctors are still urging the public obtain the vaccine as soon as possible, as even the less-effective shot can make the illness less severe after infection.