Mysterious Flu Kills Vaccinated 26-Year-Old Woman in Wisconsin

Despite taking the flu vaccine, a 26-year old Wisconsin woman succumbed to the virus early this year.

According to Fox News, Katie McQuestion contracted the virus late last year, which later caused her death from sepsis and organ failure. While it is not clear how exactly sepsis was caused, experts say it is rare as in most cases young people are rarely vulnerable. Also, McQuestion had received flu shot which though not very effective this time around, would have rendered some immunity.

KTIC narrated that McQuestion's illness started mild and took a turn for worse on January 2. A radiology technician by profession, she first started experiencing sickness a few days before New Year's Eve. Two days later she was in emergency room of Catherine's Medical Center, where she worked for the last three years.

McQuestion reported developed sepsis, which is caused by chemicals in bloodstream that elicit inflammatory responses from the body. Her organs were failing and she suffered a heart attack.

Experts said flu can cause bacterial pneumonia which in turn leads to sepsis if the bacteria escape the lungs.

"Usually pneumonia infection is confined to the lungs, but on occasion, it can be so bad that the bacteria leave the lungs and get into the bloodstream," said Dr. William Schaffner at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, according to KTIC.