A 7-year-old girl who passed away on Feb. 8 is the second flu-related death in Dallas County, health officials said.
Brea Mercado, who was a first grade student at Ben Milam Elementary School in Grand Prairie, died after a brief illness at Children's Medical Center in Dallas. She had recently transferred from Veda Knox Elementary School in Arlington.
Brea's obituary stated that she loved to go the park, ride her bike and eat ice cream. She also loved the color pink, and spent as much time possible playing with her most recent Christmas gift, a Nintendo DS.
A 49-year-old Lancaster woman died from the flu earlier this year. Hospitals are reporting a huge increase in the number of flu cases this season.
