Michigan Pediatric Flu Death Confirmed; What To Do To Avoid It

An Osceola County child is the first confirmed pediatric flu death this season, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. MDHHS says that pediatric influenza has taken the lives of six children nationally at the start of this current flu season.

MDHHS says the child from Osceola County who was infected with influenza A/H1N1.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), last year’s flu season was estimated to be the deadliest since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. More than 79,000 deaths were attributed to the flu, 185 of which were children. In Michigan, two children died last year due to flu-related complications. A majority of the positive influenza specimens confirmed by MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories this flu season have been an H1N1 virus. - MDHHS

In addition, MDHHS says "During the 2017-2018 flu season, only 39.5 percent of Michigan residents were vaccinated against flu, below the national rate of 41.7 percent."

Health officials recommend flu shot for all at higher risk, including those over 64. and the young, but children under 6 months shouldn't have a flu shot, so they recommend all those coming in contact with a child that young, parents, grandparents, childcare givers, should all get flu shots to minimize the risk.