A mother-of-two died in hospital two days after being diagnosed with the flu.

Jenny Ching, 51, and her family had assumed she was fighting a particularly nasty cold when she went to hospital last Wednesday.

Ms Ching, of Needham, Massachusetts, then developed a bacterial infection that caused severe pneumonia. On Friday morning, she died.

She normally gets a flu shot every season, but her husband Matt Ching says he's not sure if she did this season.

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Jenny Ching (pictured with her family) was diagnosed with the flu after going to hospital last Wednesday. She died two days later

'She had the flu and she also developed a bacterial infection,' he told WLWT5.

'It was really severe and caused severe pneumonia.'

He added that he is grateful for the support from friends and members of the Needham community.

'Without them, I don't know how I would be to help keep the boys going.'

Ms Ching had worked at the New Garden restaurant – a popular Chinese spot in Needham – since moving to the town at the age of 20.

Ms Ching (pictured) developed a bacterial infection that caused severe pneumonia

A wake was held on Wednesday and Ms Ching was set to be buried on Thursday morning.

A friend set up a GoFundMe page to help support Ms Ching's two sons – aged seven and nine.

'Jenny was a beautiful woman with a huge heart,' a friend wrote on the page.

'She would do anything for anyone. If she wasn't greeting you with a big smile at The New Garden restaurant where she worked, she was stopping you on the street to find out how you're doing.

'She was a wonderful mom and will be truly missed by everyone who knew her.'

Bodybuilder Kyler Baughman (pictured) died five days after contracting the flu. Doctors gave his cause of death as organ failure due to septic shock caused by influenza

Ms Ching's death was just a week after a 21-year-old bodybuilder died, five days after contracting the flu.

Kyler Baughman, from Pennsylvania, fell ill on December 23 with a cough and congested nose.

He also didn't think much of his symptoms - but was forced to come home from work on December 26.

His condition rapidly worsened and he died just 48 hours later.

Doctors gave his cause of death as organ failure due to septic shock caused by influenza.