TEXARKANA - Coleman Pearson, a 13-year-old Ben Lomond boy suspected of having eastern equine encephalitis, died Tuesday at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, a hospital spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
A post on the Prayers for Coleman Facebook page about 6:15 p.m. Tuesday read, “Coleman Daniel Pearson, December 11, 1999 to October 22, 2013.”
The post cited 2 Timothy 4:7-8: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
“It was an honor to know him. He was a great kid, and the teachers felt it was an honor to teach him,” said James Jones, Ashdown Junior High School’s principal.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a mosquito-borne illness. Only a few cases are diagnosed in people each year, and it had been more than 50 years since Arkansas had a confirmed case of the virus. Severe cases of the disease are fatal for about one-third of those who contract it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Doctors at Arkansas Children’s Hospital diagnosed Coleman with eastern equine encephalitis, but the case had not yet been confirmed through the Arkansas Department of Health. Confirmation has to first come from the CDC before the state Health Department can release the information, a Health Department official said previously.
Arkansas, Pages 16 on 10/27/2013