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No Public Health Risk Associated With Recent Student Death, YKHC Says

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation says that there is no public health risk associated with the recent death of a student who died following a wrestling tournament in Bethel. George Morgan Senior High School in Upper Kalskag identified the student as ninth-grader Katie Wooten. The school confirmed that Wooten died on Monday; the cause of death has not been disclosed.

The death was unexpected, and YKHC consulted with the Alaska Division of Public Health and the State Section of Epidemiology on how to proceed. In a joint press release with the Lower Kuskokwim School District on Monday evening, YKHC said that the deceased student showed no sign of infection. But out of an “abundance of caution,” the health corporation was offering antibiotic treatment to the student’s immediate family members and those who may have been in close contact with the student. The press release also said that anyone feeling ill could visit the YKHC emergency room or their local clinic.

YKHC issued another statement Tuesday afternoon which said that after working with the State Medical Examiner, who completed the autopsy, the health corporation only recommended antibiotic treatment to immediate family members and those who may have been in close contact with the student. YKHC said that only those contacted by the health corporation needed to visit the emergency room for treatment regarding the death.

On Wednesday YKHC announced that it had stopped offering antibiotic treatment or medical attention to anyone regarding the unexpected death of this student because no public health risk associated with the death existed.

YKHC also offered its thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the death.

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.