WORCESTER, Mass. -- Worcester State College officials are trying to reassure concerned students and parents in the wake of the death of a student who had the flu.

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NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that state health officials confirmed Jeffrey Donohue, 18, of Winthrop, Mass., passed away Sunday at Massachusetts General Hospital from A-type influenza.

Officials have not determined if Donohue had the Fujian strain of the flu, which has killed nine children in Colorado, and others in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Donohue went home over the Thanksgiving break and saw a doctor because he wasn't feeling well, but nothing was diagnosed. He then went back to school after the break, but last weekend he was admitted to MGH and died Sunday, shortly after being diagnosed with A-type influenza. Donohue was described as healthy and athletic. Donahue's roommate is also being treated for the flu.

Donohue's death has alarmed some of the 4,500 students at Worcester State College, where he went to school.

"I don't really tend to get sick," said Rachelle Lavoie. "It makes me nervous."

"I sometimes get like a sinus infection or something like that, but I never think something like the flu could actually kill, so, it's kinda creepin' me out a little bit," said freshman Mark Peterson.

The college said the school shares the pain of the student's family.

"The family is grieving and this campus is grieving with them," said Worcester State College President Janelle Ashley.

So far, there are 11 confirmed cases of flu in Massachusetts and the state is testing for the Fujian strains.

The college offered flu clinics in the fall and 150 shots were given. Colleges in the Worcester area are now trying to find more vaccines to administer to students.

The state Health Department recommends vaccination for certain people at high risk of complications from the flu. These include:

people 50 years or older;

residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house people of any age who have long-term illnesses;

adults and children 6 months of age and older who have chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;

adults and children 6 months of age and older who need regular medical care or have to be in a hospital because of metabolic diseases (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicine or by infection with HIV/AIDS;

children and teenagers 6 months to 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy and therefore could develop Reye Syndrome after the flu;

women who will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season.

Flu symptoms include shortness of breath, an inability to keep down liquids, dehydration and mood swings.