Autopsy: Migrant child who died in US custody had infection

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press, via the Waco Tribune

Autopsy: Migrant child who died in US custody had infection
By NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press Mar 29, 2019 Updated 43 sec ago

HOUSTON (AP) — An autopsy has found that a 7-year-old girl from Guatemala died of a bacterial infection while detained by the U.S. Border Patrol, in a case that drew worldwide attention to the plight of migrant families detained at the southern U.S. border.

The El Paso County Medical Examiner's office released a report Friday of its findings in the death of 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin. Jakelin died Dec. 8, just over a day after she was apprehended by Border Patrol agents with her father.

The report says traces of streptococcus bacteria were found in Jakelin's lungs, adrenal gland, liver, and spleen. The autopsy says she faced a "rapidly progressive infection" that led to the failure of multiple organs.

The medical examiner did not determine which form of streptococcus bacteria Jakelin contracted.

Read more: https://www.wacotrib.com/news/ap_texas/autopsy-migrant-child-who-died-in-us-custody-had-infection/article_a5d81983-e249-594a-aae2-f122a67b2181.html

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Hat tip, Popehat:

DeepLakeHat Retweeted

https://twitter.com/Popehat

The autopsy report on 7-year-old Jakelin Caal Maquin, showing she died of a "rapidly progressive" infection, was just released this afternoon. The president has taken this opportunity to lie that her dad admitted he was to blame for her death.

Link to tweet

[vlyons]

1. Did she see a health professional upon arrival?

Was she ever given an antibacterial shot? More generally, upon arrival, how soon and what kind of medical screening do immigrants receive, if any?

[Honeycombe8]

3. You can look up the situation, but as I recall...

she had just been picked up with her family, put in a van, when the govt people realized how sick she was. I think they were taking her to a doctor or clinic or something, but I don't know how long that took or if they made it before she passed away; I'm not sure where they were when they picked up the family.

[atreides1]

7. Well here's the story

https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/23/americas/guatemala-jakelin-caal-maquin-returns-home/index.html

[Honeycombe8]

8. Yes, that's what I recall.

They discovered she was sick when they were on the van/bus. It took a while before they got to their destination, where health care would be. Border Patrol Agents w/medical training had tried to assist her, after the father notified them of his daughter's illness.

But there are many questions, obviously. I also recall that a supposed statement by the father was published, absolving the govt. But we later learned the father said he had never made such a statement.

That must have been a horrible ride in the bus for the father and the poor child, as well as for the other passengers to witness the child, who was obviously very sick.

Horrible.

[Honeycombe8]

2. So sad. It's very dangerous traveling so far in harsh conditions...

if that's how/when she got it. If I recall correctly, her family had just been picked up in a van, when they realized she was very ill.

Poor little girl.

[stillcool]

4. from the link above..

"As KTSM previously reported, Jakelin Caal and her father were apprehended with a large group of undocumented immigrants near Lordsburg on Dec. 6.

While in custody, Caal began vomiting and had a fever of 105 degrees. She was flown to an El Paso hospital where she died two days later.

The El Paso County Medical Examiner's office released the report on Friday, nearly four months after Caal's death."

........and
"DHS officials maintain they were given access to food and water. When addressing reports where DHS officials have said that the father and daughter walked for days without access to food and water, the attorneys say that is not true.

"They left Guatemala, he and his daughter themselves they traveled through Mexico by bus," said his attorney Christopher Benoit. "They did not walk and they arrived at the border by bus with the wall in sight.""

[Honeycombe8]

5. I think she got sick on the van, right after they were picked up.

That's why I'm unsure how long it was until she had medical care. She was "in custody" on the van. Maybe that was a story they gave. I don't know.

I do recall that the govt issued a statement by the father, which the father later said he had never said. About him not giving her water and food after walking for miles, and that the border patrol or whoever had not done anything wrong. Well, you can tell from that statement that it wasn't real. That's not a normal thing for a parent to say right after his child dies.

[Turbineguy]

6. Poor child.

Look at that lovely face.

[elleng]

9. Clearly strep is still very serious.

Appears to me she had it for a while.

'traces of streptococcus bacteria were found in Jakelin's lungs, adrenal gland, liver, and spleen. The autopsy says she faced a "rapidly progressive infection" that led to sepsis and the failure of multiple organs.

The medical examiner did not determine which form of streptococcus bacteria Jakelin contracted.'