A funeral was held Thursday for an 11-year-old girl from Chester who became the fifth child in New York State to die from the flu this year.

Alyssa Barberi, an active Girl Scout, was in school at the Chester Academy last Friday. Two days later, she was rushed to the hospital, where doctors say she died from influenza.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Saint Columba Church in Chester to pay their final respects to the young girl. People in the community say losing Barberi has had an impact on everyone.

Doctors say the best way to prevent complications from the flu that may lead to death is to be vaccinated against the virus. They recommend flu shots for all children ages 6 months to 18 years, as well as for adults over 50, or anyone with chronic health problems, including diabetes or asthma.

Normally, doctors say the flu is not cause for alarm, but people should call the doctor if a fever does not respond to medicine or rises above 103.

"When things change, when their child is not responding to some simple things, then we would want to hear from them," says Dr. Jonathan Nasser.