September 2nd, 2009 by MWilhelm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Metro Nashville’s Public Health Department says a 5-year-old boy from Davidson County has died from the swine flu.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, the child became ill on Friday evening and died Monday night at a hospital. Health officials are investigating whether any underlying illness may have contributed to his death.

Health Director Bill Paul said in the statement that most people who get the swine flu have a mild illness and recover quickly, but the boy’s death is “a sobering reminder that it can be a serious illness.”

The Health Department is receiving numerous reports of flu-like illness. Parents are asked to use the same judgment about seeking medical care that they would during a typical flu season