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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Swine flu girl 'had tough life' | Swine flu girl 'had tough life' |
| (about 18 hours later) | |
| A six-year-old girl who died after contracting swine flu had "been through a lot" with other illnesses, her father has told an inquest. | A six-year-old girl who died after contracting swine flu had "been through a lot" with other illnesses, her father has told an inquest. |
| Sameerah Ahmad died at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Friday evening after contracting the virus. | Sameerah Ahmad died at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Friday evening after contracting the virus. |
| Her father Imran Ahmad, from Edgbaston, attended the opening of the inquest at Birmingham Coroner's Court. | |
| The hospital's Dr Gale Pearson told the court that Sameerah had a condition which had weakened her immune system. | |
| Her death is the third swine-flu related fatality in the UK. The other two were in Scotland. | Her death is the third swine-flu related fatality in the UK. The other two were in Scotland. |
| There must be a lot of parents who are worried and are very aware of your grief Birmingham coroner Aiden Cotter | There must be a lot of parents who are worried and are very aware of your grief Birmingham coroner Aiden Cotter |
| The Health Protection Agency confirmed on Tuesday there are now 6,538 cases in the UK. | |
| Aiden Cotter, Birmingham and Solihull's coroner, confirmed Sameerah had been infected with the H1N1 virus when she died and gave details of other serious health problems. | Aiden Cotter, Birmingham and Solihull's coroner, confirmed Sameerah had been infected with the H1N1 virus when she died and gave details of other serious health problems. |
| She was born with a rare genetic disorder affecting the small intestine called microvillus inclusion disease, which causes severe and often life-threatening diarrhoea, the inquest heard. | |
| A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out on Tuesday and the inquest was adjourned. | |
| Sameerah's body was released to her family on Tuesday afternoon and her coffin was taken to the family home where relatives and teachers from her school paid their respects. | |
| MICROVILLUS INCLUSION DISEASE A rare genetic disorder of the small intestineCauses chronic, severe diarrhoea in newborn babies, which can lead to serious dehydration and a condition called metabolic acidosisNearly always fatal, but can sometimes be treated by intravenous feeding or an intestinal transplant | MICROVILLUS INCLUSION DISEASE A rare genetic disorder of the small intestineCauses chronic, severe diarrhoea in newborn babies, which can lead to serious dehydration and a condition called metabolic acidosisNearly always fatal, but can sometimes be treated by intravenous feeding or an intestinal transplant |
| The six-year-old attended Mayfield School, a school for children with special needs in Lozells, Birmingham, which has been closed until Monday. | |
| Mr Ahmad told the court his daughter had suffered during her lifetime. | Mr Ahmad told the court his daughter had suffered during her lifetime. |
| Asked if he wanted a post-mortem examination to be carried out, he replied: "Obviously I do not, because she has been through a lot already in her life." | Asked if he wanted a post-mortem examination to be carried out, he replied: "Obviously I do not, because she has been through a lot already in her life." |
| However, he said he accepted it, if it was "the law". | However, he said he accepted it, if it was "the law". |
| Mr Cotter told him a post-mortem examination was necessary to find out how his daughter had died, but was not strict law. | Mr Cotter told him a post-mortem examination was necessary to find out how his daughter had died, but was not strict law. |
| "It may be that, when we have all the evidence in, we still won't know but it's important we try and find out," the coroner said. | "It may be that, when we have all the evidence in, we still won't know but it's important we try and find out," the coroner said. |
| 'Great loss' | 'Great loss' |
| Mr Cotter said he was releasing more information about Sameerah's death than was usual at the opening of an inquest. | Mr Cotter said he was releasing more information about Sameerah's death than was usual at the opening of an inquest. |
| "I think it's very important that the public have this information. | "I think it's very important that the public have this information. |
| "There must be a lot of parents who are worried and are very aware of your grief." | "There must be a lot of parents who are worried and are very aware of your grief." |
| Mayfield School head teacher Paul Jenkins said pupils and staff were being offered support over the death of Sameerah. | Mayfield School head teacher Paul Jenkins said pupils and staff were being offered support over the death of Sameerah. |
| "She was a wonderful, happy, child and her death is a great loss to the school community. She will be sadly missed by everyone here." | "She was a wonderful, happy, child and her death is a great loss to the school community. She will be sadly missed by everyone here." |