Aabi was 2years and nine months old when she died. Picture supplied
A two-year-old girl from Perth, named Aabi, tragically became the sixth person to die from influenza in Western Australia this year. Her death highlights the severe flu season currently affecting the region. Aabi, described by her family as a healthy and vibrant child, fell critically ill shortly after returning from a family holiday.
On May 3, 2025, Aabi began exhibiting symptoms that escalated rapidly. What started as a mild headache quickly progressed to a life-threatening condition. Following a day at day care, Aabi experienced a dramatic spike in her temperature, reaching an alarming 40.6C. Her mother recounted how the little girl vomited while trying to manage her fever. After showing initial signs of improvement, Aabi became increasingly drowsy, prompting her mother to take action.
“I gave her medicine and settled her down, massaging her head as she became drowsy,” Aabi’s mother stated. “I sat beside her, waiting for the fever to drop, but it kept climbing.”
Panicking over the worsening situation, Aabi’s mother called a friend and rushed her to the emergency department, with her husband planning to join them after finding a replacement at work. Upon arrival at the hospital, Aabi was diagnosed with influenza.
“It felt like she deteriorated significantly and too quickly,” her mother said. Despite attempts by medical staff to stabilize her, Aabi suffered a gentle seizure, which warranted the administration of anti-seizure medication. Unfortunately, her condition continued to worsen, leading to her being transferred to intensive care.
Drifting in and out of consciousness, Aabi was intubated upon arrival in the ICU. “I believe we lost her at that point,” her mother recalled. Following further scans, doctors confirmed that Aabi had suffered “total brain death due to acute necrotising encephalitis,” a rare and severe complication associated with influenza infection.
The grieving family expressed their heartbreak over the rapid progression of the virus, which offered them little indication of its critical nature. “We lost our beautiful Aabi at the hands of what seemed like a ‘mere virus’,” they lamented.
They also noted that even had Aabi been vaccinated in early May, the typical time for flu vaccinations in Western Australia, the vaccine would have taken around ten days to become effective. “Aabi was a blessing we had for too short a time. Our lives remain incomplete,” her family stated, wishing that no other parent would have to endure such a tragic loss.
This incident marks the sixth flu-related death in Western Australia in 2025 as health authorities report soaring hospital admissions and declining vaccination rates. The region has recorded 14,921 flu cases this year, marking it as the worst flu season in a decade. Hospital admissions have risen nearly 50% above the five-year average, with current figures at 2,325 as of July 20. The flu vaccination rate in Western Australia stands at 59.1%, raising concerns among health officials about the need for increased awareness and vaccination to combat this deadly virus.
