A baby boy from Pocatello has died after contracting respiratory syncytial virus, more commonly known as RSV.

Oddie Chacon, a 16-month-old boy from Pocatello, passed away on Thursday after becoming ill with RSV in mid-December, according to a GoFundMe.com fundraiser set up to help his family.

Southeast Idaho, including the Pocatello area, currently has the highest RSV positivity rate in the entire state, according to health officials.

Initially, Oddie contracted RSV and then he was diagnosed with rhinovirus, according to his mother Jenna Chacon.

Oddie was initially receiving treatment at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello but his condition progressively became worse, resulting in him being flown via helicopter ambulance to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City the day after Christmas, according to the GoFundMe fundraiser.

“He was placed in a medically induced coma with the hopes that he could fight these infections,” the GoFundMe said. “He did start to see progress and there was hope that he would slowly (get) better. His lungs showed they were clearing up the last couple of days. (On Thursday) they found out he was bleeding internally and sent him for a CT scan. They found bleeding in his brain and needed to stop it fast to do surgery. They couldn’t get the bleeding under control and baby Oddie passed away. He didn’t deserve for this to be the end.”

The GoFundMe said Oddie was the sweetest boy who loved his snacks and was learning new words every day.

Amber Pannell, a close friend to the Chacon family created the GoFundMe fundraiser. She stated, “As a parent, I cannot fathom the pain that Jenna and Zach are facing. They have been and are going to be for a while without income. They have to pay bills, are going to have to plan and bury their baby as well as get him back to Idaho.”

Pannell started the GoFundMe to help the Chacon family cover Oddie’s final medical bills and his funeral costs. The fundraiser was originally created in hopes of Oddie beating the virus, but is now even more necessary following his heartbreaking and unexpected passing.

Accessible by visiting gofund.me/d96cabb7, dozens of people had contributed just over $8,300 of the fundraiser’s $15,000 goal as of Saturday.

Data on the number of RSV-related deaths to occur in the U.S. is not yet available from health officials but Idaho has been especially hard hit by the virus.

RSV-related deaths in children are rare.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year in the United States RSV leads to approximately:

— 2.1 million outpatient (non-hospitalization) visits among children younger than 5 years old.

— 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old.

— 100 to 300 deaths among children younger than 5 years old.

Last month, Idaho hospitals reported experiencing what Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen described as a “triple-demic” involving the simultaneous circulation of three respiratory diseases—RSV, influenza and COVID-19.

While the “triple-demic” has created challenging situations for Idaho hospitals, it hasn’t yet resulted in any hospitals implementing crisis standards of care—a health care rationing protocol meant to help health care providers make decisions on how to use scarce resources.

The Southeastern Idaho Public Health District—which includes the counties of Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Butte, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power—is currently experiencing the second-highest RSV positivity rate in the state at 16.4 percent, according to data from the Department of Health and Welfare posted on GetHealthyIdaho.com.

GetHealthyIdaho.com also tracks influenza-related data and currently lists the spread of influenza as being statewide. As of the week ending Dec. 31, about 5 percent of outpatient visits at Idaho medical facilities were for influenza-like illnesses. The number jumps to 7.24 percent for emergency department visits in the state for influenza-like illnesses.

The flu is definitely taking a toll on Idaho with the state reporting seven influenza-related deaths the week ending Dec. 31. On Wednesday, the state reported its first pediatric influenza-related death of this flu season. A Washington County child in southwest Idaho was the first Idahoan younger than age 18 whose death was flu related.

“This is a tragic reminder that although deaths among children are unusual, flu can be very serious, and not just for those 65 years and older,” said Idaho Influenza Surveillance Coordinator Dr. Leslie Tengelsen. “Influenza activity is currently very high in Idaho. While in some parts of the country the flu season appears to be on the decline, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the flu season often has a second wave, so it is difficult to know how long this season will continue.”

The last influenza-related death of a child in Idaho was reported during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to the state Department of Health and Welfare.

“It is not too late to get the flu vaccine,” Tengelsen said. “To reduce serious respiratory illness, get your annual influenza vaccine and stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines.”

In addition to getting vaccinated, Health and Welfare recommends that Idahoans take the following actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses:

— Wear a mask and physically distance yourself whenever you are in public.

— Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth until you have washed your hands.

— Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, eat nutritious foods, and take part in physical activity to stay healthy.

— Avoid people who appear sick.

— Stay home from work or school when sick.

— Cover your coughs and sneezes.