Baltimore Boy's Death Raises Concerns Over Cold Virus

Dec. 8, 2008 — -- The sudden death of a young boy in Baltimore on Nov. 30 alarmed his community and highlighted the potential dangers of common viruses.

Anthony Scott, 9, a third grader at Dr. Bernard Harris Sr. Elementary School in East Baltimore, Md., got sick over Thanksgiving. According to his mother, Lataye Scott, the boy was fine at the beginning of the holiday meal but became ill as it went on.

He became short of breath and had an asthma attack. Despite treatment at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the boy died.

Blood tests showed that Anthony, who long suffered from asthma, had an adenovirus, a common, seasonal virus that can cause a range of ailments from a simple cold to diarrhea and pneumonia.

In response to Scott's death, his school, together with the Baltimore City Health Department, sent home a letter describing adenoviruses and their common symptoms as well as how proper hygiene and cough and sneeze etiquette can help prevent infection.

But the response from parents was not in keeping with the minimal threat of the virus.

"We've been getting hysteria," said Dr. Laura Herrera, Deputy Commissioner of Health for the Baltimore City Health Department. "Most parents aren't educated as far as what the names of the viruses are that cause the common cold."

Attempts to reach Lataye Scott were unsuccessful. Loren McCaskill, principal at Bernard Harris Elementary, declined to comment.