Girl, 12, becomes youngest person in Europe to die from coronavirus after losing life in Belgium
A GIRL, 12, has become the youngest person to die from coronavirus in Europe after battling a fever for three days at her home in Belgium.
The shocking tragedy was announced by the country’s national crisis centre coronavirus spokesman Emmanuel Andre today.
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He said it was an emotionally difficult moment because of the age of the victim, adding that the medical and scientific community had been left devastated.
Andre said: “We are thinking of her family and friends.
“It is an event that is very rare, but one which upsets us greatly.”
Speaking during the same daily briefing in Brussels, Virologist Steven Van Gucht revealed the child died after battling a fever for three days.
'THREE DAYS OF FEVER'
He said: "The girl tested positive for Coronavirus, and deteriorated over three days of fever.
"We don't know why in some cases it goes wrong. Situations must be studied on a case-by-case basis."
It is not known whether the Belgian girl had an underlying health condition.
The horrific news means the girl has become the youngest person to die from Covid-19 in Europe.
The previous youngest known death on the continent was a boy, 14, who died in Portugal over the weekend.
Vitor Godinho passed away in a hospital near Porto in the early hours of Sunday morning after falling ill with the bug.
YOUNGER AND YOUNGER
And just days before, a French schoolgirl, 16, became the youngest victim at the time after losing her battle with the bug.
Julie Alliot passed away from respiratory problems in a Paris hospital on Wednesday, after being sent home with a "slight cough" a week before.
The youngest person known to have died from coronavirus in the UK was an 18-year-old in Coventry last week.
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Health officials confirmed the teenager had "significant" underlying health problems.
Chloe Middleton, 21, who had no health concerns before developing COVID-19 symptoms, also died from coronavirus last week, her family said.
She is believed to be the UK’s youngest victim with no existing medical issues.
After today's news, Andre revealed 98 people had died from the disease over the last 24 hours in Belgium, bringing the total toll to 705 in the country of around 11.5million people.
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More than 12,705 cases have been confirmed in total there so far.
Belgian authorities expect the spread of the disease to reach its peak in coming days, Andre said.
And he warned the nation’s hospitals would soon be close to saturation point.
