Boy, 5, died after getting Covid, strep throat and two other viruses

19 February 2024 , 22:36

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Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero, 5 died of sepsis, Covid-19 and two other viruses

Medical examiners this week released a damning autopsy report, revealing what truly happened to a five-year-old who died after being rushed to the hospital from a Pilsen migrant shelter about two months ago.

The Chicago Department of Public Health initially claimed Jean Carlos Martinez Rivero, 5, died from a medical complication and not an infectious disease. The details of the young boy's death were made public Friday as the Cook County Medical Examiner revealed his cause of death.

The office's report suggested Jean died of sepsis from Strep Throat (A) and Covid-19, adding that he possessed two other viruses that were contributing factors. “It’s too much for a little body. It really is sad," said Dr. Juanita Mora, an allergist and immunologist.

READ MORE: Child and man, 20, die after migrant boat with 20 people sinks 120 metres from safety

The Chicago Department of Health initially claimed Jean died from a medical complication (AFP via Getty Images)

"We have to remember that a 5-year-old has a very small amount of volume when it comes to bodily fluids. So, when an overwhelming infection like Covid-19 hits his body, and at the same time he gets strep throat, it starts going into the blood stream, it starts affecting the rest of the organs.”

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

Mora said she's encountered multiple children with strep this winter, and inferred that Jean likely experienced symptoms until his inevitable death. “I always tell parents to watch for three things: One, fever that doesn’t resolve. Two, fatigue, a child that is sleeping a lot and three, loss of appetite.”

Fire officials said they transported several other ill children, who were staying at the Pilsen shelter (Getty Images)

Viruses and bacteria can easily spread like wildfire, Mora said. Especially in shared living spaces like shelters. “They’re also in a migrant shelter where there’s not a lot of attention, and maybe the parent felt helpless," Mora said. "It’s a very, very sad outcome. And as a doctor I never want to see a child go through this ever again. And I think it’s a lesson for all of us in the medical community, as a community itself, we need to do better in recognizing the symptoms, when to take a child to the emergency room, when to seek help fast.”

Chicago fire and rescue officials said they transported several other ill children, who were staying at the Pilsen shelter, to the hospital later in the week. Mayor Brandon Johnson's Office released the following statement Saturday morning.

"The City of Chicago again expresses our deepest condolences to the family of Jean Carlos Martínez Rivero. This is a tragic loss, and we appreciate the work of community partners supporting the Martínez Rivero family during this difficult time.

The report issued by the Cook County Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was sepsis, a rare complication due to invasive Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as Group A Strep, that rapidly became fatal. Sepsis can lead to serious complications in as little as 24 hours."

Mataeo Smith