H1N1 OUTBREAK

PENSACOLA, FL - H1N1 has claimed more than 1,000 lives across the nation.

It's kept many people home from work and school for days, even weeks.

In a special report, Channel Three's James Jackson shows us one family's struggle after their son became ill.

After being sick for a week, 9-year-old Ben Quarles symptoms are just starting to clear up.

What he had turned his household upside down.

Ben Quarles/Had Swine Flu, "I coughed and I did my nose like sniffed a lot and I sat in bed mostly the whole day."

Dawn Quarles/Ben's Mother, "He came home from school. Didn't feel well. lethargic, tired. By that night, he had a low fever."

So Dawn Quarles brought her son here to Pensacola Pediatrics.

Ben Quarles/Had Swine Flu, "They opened my mouth, they looked down my throat and up my nose. They gave me some medicine and asked me some questions."

He was diagnosed with the Swine Flu.

Dr. Pamela Klein/Pediatrician, "This is the busiest Fall that I've seen in 20 years."

Doctor Pamela Klein's office sees 10 to 20 new cases per day.

In fact, doctors here have extended their hours to see more patients."

Dr. Pamela Klein/Pediatrician, "We're asking the parents to keep their child at home. Keep them comfortable using Tylenol or Motrin to keep the fever at bay and and drink lots and lots of fluids and I really stress that. I tell parents over and over that's the most important thing."

But, Ben's mother says the virus wouldn't go away for about a week.

Dawn Quarles/Ben's Mother, "He had a high fever. He had stopped eating. he had a severe cough. He couldn't sleep at night. very, very tired. Just did not feel good at all and he wouldn't improve."

Ben Quarles/Had Swine Flu, "I laid in bed and watched TV and she gave me medicine and gave me food."

The virus kept Ben out of school and mom out of her classroom at Pace High.

Dawn Quarles/Ben's Mother, "He missed an entire week of school and I missed an entire week of school as well and it got us very, very behind as far as school work. It took us an entire three days to get his school work caught back up."

For as bad as his week was, for some people, the symptoms are even worse and last even longer.

Over 1,000 people, including 95 children, in the U.S. have died from Swine Flu since April and 20,000 people have been hospitalized.Living with Swine Flu
The nation reacts as the swine flu spreads throughout the United States.  Keep up to date on the latest information and what you need to do to keep your family safe.

Posted: Friday, October 30 2009, 06:32:04 PM

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