Update: H1N1 Could Be Cause Of 10-Year-Old's Death

Medical officials say that the virus may have claimed another life. This time it's a 10-year-old girl from Alexander.

The Department of Health hasn't confirmed if this recent death was indeed caused by H1N1.

The Benton School District is coping with the loss of Nail.

"As in any case where you have a tragedy with the death of a young child it really hits a community hard," says Superintendent Dr. Tony Prothro.


In this case, the tragedy is magnified. Tuesday night fourth grade Ringgold elementary student 10-year-old Olivia Grace Ann Nail died.

Her mother Caroline Nail is a teacher at the elementary school. Her father is Benton High School's head basketball coach Chris Nail. The couple affectionately called their eldest child Gracie, and it caught on.

"Many of this these students look to him as a father and they have been intricately involved not only with Coach Nail but with the young daughter Gracie and it really takes a toll on the kids," says Dr. Protho.

Medical officials say Nail checked into Children's Hospital Tuesday, by Wednesday night she had died.

Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper says Nail had a pre-existing condition, which he can't disclose. He says because of this clinical pathologist may or may not determine that H1N1 was the primary cause of her death.

"It could categorize the death a little differently; it may not be the actual cause of death or what we like to call the primary cause it could be a contributing factor to the death," says Camper.

Camper says Nail tested positive for H1N1 while at Arkansas Children's Hospital, but those tests have to be confirmed by the Department of Health before being considered official.

Camper says even if H1N1 wasn't the primary cause of Nail's death, it likely played a factor if she tested positive.

It's a loss of a girl described by her principal Ann Kerr as sweet, kind, loving, precious child.

The Benton School District says coach Nail is on personal leave, but is expected to come back.

The Benton School District has set up a fund at Arvest Bank.
It's the Olivia Grace Ann "Gracie" Nail Memorial Fund to help the family with expenses. Donations may be made at any Arvest Bank.

The Department of Heath is holding mass flu vaccine clinics at the end of the month. However, short supplies have resulted in changes in who can get the vaccine. Click here for more details.

Click here for a special section on H1N1.