Savannah DeHart Thought She Had A Headache — Instead, She Had A Rare Mosquito-Borne Virus
Prayers up for the young girl!
What a tragedy! A teenager in Michigan thought she had a headache — and when she went to the doctor, it turned out to be a lot worse. Who is Savannah DeHart?
Let's look at what we know about this girl and her unfortunate situation.
1. She's only 14 years old.
According to People Magazine, Savannah DeHart is only 14 years old. That's why her parents are so freaked out about her potential diagnosis.
2. Savannah DeHart has been diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis, better known as EEE.
"People infected with a mild form of the virus usually get flu-like symptoms or may even have no symptoms. For people who are more seriously infected, signs and symptoms include fever, headache, crankiness, restlessness, drowsiness, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, and coma, according to the CDC. The illness usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks, and deaths tend to happen from 2 to 10 days after symptoms begin. For people who survive EEE, the effects can be long-lasting," reports WebMD.
3. The disease is rare, but Savannah DeHart is the third such reported case of EEE this year in Kalamazoo, MI.
According to The New York Post, even though EEE is a rare disease, Savannah DeHart's diagnosis is the third such diagnosis in Kalamazoo, MI, and the surrounding areas this year alone.
4. She missed her first day of freshman year of high school.
"She was so excited to start school. We’ve been in contact with the principal there to talk about what our next steps will be. It’s been pretty difficult," her mother, Keri Dooley, told the Detroit Free Press.
5. Savannah DeHart is currently on a respirator.
According to WOOD-TV, Savannah DeHart is currently on a respirator. She's unable to speak, and her mother says that her brain is trying to "heal itself," and that her daughter can't do anything until that happens.
6. There are several confirmed cases of EEE in Massachusetts, as well.
"At least four people in Massachusetts have contracted the rare Eastern equine encephalitis virus, including one woman who died, officials and family members said Sunday. Laurie Sylvia, a 59-year-old realtor, contracted the disease, which is spread by mosquitoes, and began to feel sick on Monday before passing away on Saturday," reported a different story for The New York Post.
We hope Savannah DeHart gets well soon!
Bernadette Giacomazzo is an editor, writer, and photographer whose work has appeared in People, Teen Vogue, Us Weekly, The Source, XXL, HipHopDX, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, and more. She is also the author of The Uprising series. For more information about Bernadette Giacomazzo, click here