Ardmore boy's swine flu death prompts clinic

Landry died Tuesday from complications from swine flu, or H1N1. His funeral is planned for 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church in Ardmore.

The vaccination clinic was at Ardmore Middle School because it has had the greatest number of student absences because of illness, schools Superintendent Ruth Ann Carr said. The school has about 600 students, who needed parental permission slips for the vaccination.

Landry is survived by his parents, Lance and Christi Swanson, and two brothers, Carter, 14, and Jason Cal, 5.

Landry attended fourth grade at Charles Evans Elementary School in Ardmore. Grief counselors were at the school this week to talk to students and staff.

"Everyone is doing the best as can be expected," Principal Kristie Jessop said. "He was a very bright and energetic boy. He will be very, very missed."

Landry's obituary states he loved participating in football, basketball, baseball and track. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his dad and brothers, and he liked going shopping with his mother.

Landry fell ill with the flu and seemed to get better before he became very ill again with bacterial meningitis, Carr said. Secondary infections from swine flu have caused several deaths in Oklahoma, state health officials said.

Carr said vaccinations will be offered by the Carter County Health Department to other Ardmore students as they become available.

Swine flu has led to the death of 13 Oklahomans. Hundreds of others have been hospitalized.