Georgia teen's death linked to a rare flu complication, family says

A Paulding County high school student, Bailey Cruse of South Paulding High School, died after flu-like symptoms progressed to a rare complication causing cardiac arrest; the family says the death was due to an extremely rare flu complication, and the school will offer counseling as the community mourns. Georgia has recorded 196 flu-related deaths and 3,476 flu-related hospitalizations since Oct. 4, 2025.