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Ohio college student dies of flu

Updated: Tuesday, January 15 2013, 11:55 AM EST
A 22-year-old Ohio woman has died after being hospitalized for the flu.

No pre-existing medical conditions, no tendency to get sick easily, no way of predicting 22 year old Amelia Perry would wind up such an unlikely victim.

It was kind of shocking actually, that she was so young, and it was just the flu.
Amelia's family said the flu quickly turned to double pneumonia and a staff infection. She died on Tuesday afternoon. Her family said she loved the outdoors and loved people. She's a 2008 graduate of Fairborn High School and was currently a junior at Wright State. The university released a statement saying "we are deeply saddened to learn of Amelia's passing. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family."

In Beaver Creek, the Milano's Restaurant where Amelia worked for the last year was full of regular customers and coworkers just learning about her death. Off camera, they told us she was adorable, a delight.

They say they talked to her last week when she called needing someone to cover her shift because Amelia said she wasn't feeling very well. Other students at Wright State said they were surprised to hear the news.

I was like wow that could happen to one person that could happen to anyone.
Amelia Perry was one of nearly 700 people hospitalized in Ohio for the flu in the first week of this year. The health districts of Montgomery and Greene Counties say they're just hoping a little bit of good can come from such sadness.

One of the things that people need to take away from it, is that they need to be aware, this is a serious situation when you get the flu, and if you have chronic medical conditions, it perhaps could be much more serious.
Ohio college student dies of flu