SAN DIEGO -- The sudden death of a healthy 5-year-old South Bay girl as a result of the H1N1 virus has shocked all that knew her, 10News reported.

Teachers and parents returned to Howard Pence Elementary School in Otay Mesa just hours after learning that Alitza Ortiz-Sanchez was the latest victim of swine flu.

Alitza was described by friends and family members as very petite and sweet and also incredibly attached to her parents.

"I can't even imagine, to lose a baby that age," said Coco Petrault, whose granddaughter was friends with Alitza.

"We used to play on swings, or on the slide, and if not we would play hide-and-seek," said Petrault's granddaughter.

"She thought only old people die, not kids; now she knows," said Petrault.

Alitza's death is penetrating throughout the school and the county, medical experts said.

Physicians like Dr. John Bradley of Rady Children's Hospital said they understand why concern among parents is heightened now.

"The reality that this isn't a benign infection is hitting parents," said Bradley.

Bradley said the swine flu virus, like any other type of influenza strain, can attack major organs.

"Influenza, when it infects you, it starts in lungs. Then goes into the bloodstream, then it can go to every organ in the body," said Bradley.

The virus attacked Alitza's heart, and Bradley said the virus could attack the brain as well.

Even with Alitza's death, many physicians say it is very rare to have an outcome like this.

"Even with average infections, there are some kids that get really sick. We even see this with chicken pox. We had a few kids die last year from that," said Bradley.

Bradley told 10News viruses affect people differently, which is why he urged people to get the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available.

Vaccine Availability Changing Daily

A very limited number of people have been able to receive the swine flu nasal spray, but that may soon be changing, 10News' Steve Fiorina reported.

San Diego County health officials told 10News a few thousand doses of the vaccine have been distributed so far to 2,000 county clinics and 26,000 to private providers (doctors, hospitals and community clinics).

"We're hoping to have it by the end of the week," said pediatrician Dr. Javier Rodriguez, of the La Maestra Community Health Center.

La Maestra expects to receive 850 doses in the October delivery and more than double that amount over the rest of the winter.

County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten said, "I don't know how many are left with the private provider community. Many of them just began to get their doses, some yesterday, some today. In terms of public health centers, we have used over 50 percent."

Health officials said more than 400,000 more doses are on order and should be in clinics and hospitals very soon.

"That includes nasal spray, single-dose injection for children, single-dose for adults/pregnant women and multi-dose vials. Those are the four different formulations," said Wooten.

Scripps Hospital is not yet providing the vaccine, but should be ready to provide it in November.

Kaiser hospitals currently have the nasal spray, but it is available for Kaiser members only. They expect to have injectable vaccines available in the next few weeks.