> At a Glance
> – Ryleigh Spurlock, 16, died from flu complications on Dec. 28
> – Temperature spiked from 98.5°F to 105°F within 24 hours
> – She had not received this season’s flu vaccine
> – Why it matters: Rapid flu progression shows how quickly seasonal illness can turn deadly for otherwise healthy teens
Ryleigh Spurlock’s family is warning others after the 16-year-old went from mild flu symptoms to brain death in under a day. The Ohio teen had not gotten her flu shot, and her condition spiraled into sepsis and double pneumonia before doctors could stabilize her.
Sudden Decline After Doctor Visit
Ryleigh visited a doctor on December 23 with what her family called “ordinary flu symptoms.” Within hours, her temperature rocketed to 105°F and she was rushed to the hospital.
Her stepmother, Brittney, told Cleveland 19 News:
> “She went from a 98.5 temperature to a 105, she went septic, she had double pneumonia, all within 24 hours, all from the flu, and it doesn’t make sense.”
Doctors placed her on life support, but after 50 minutes of chest compressions she was declared brain dead.
Family Shares Harrowing Details
- Coughing up blood – sister Kyleigh recalled Ryleigh “choking on her own blood.”
- Medical outlook – staff warned she would “get worse before she got better.”
- No pulse for 50 minutes – emergency teams worked continuously yet could not restore brain activity.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 23 | Routine doctor visit for flu symptoms |
| Dec. 24 | Hospitalized, temp 105°F, sepsis begins |
| Dec. 28 | Declared brain dead |
CDC data show this flu season has already caused:
- 7 million cases
- 81,000 hospitalizations
- 3,100 deaths
Key Takeaways
- Flu can progress from mild to fatal in under a day, even in healthy teens.
- Vaccination remains the best defense; Ryleigh had not received her shot.
- Early antiviral treatment is critical when symptoms escalate quickly.
Greene County officials have not yet released additional comment, and the family hopes sharing Ryleigh’s story will encourage vaccination and prompt medical attention at the first sign of severe symptoms.
