Mar 17, 2008 11:16 pm US/Eastern
Fourth Child Flu Death Reported In Mass.
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
The Mass. Department of Public Health has confirmed a fourth pediatric death associated with the flu.
Officials say a 12-year-old girl from Worcester County died on Sunday from complications from the flu. She is the only child among those who recently died who did get the flu shot this year.
According to the MDPH, the girl had no underlying health problems.
Just two days earlier on March 14, a 15-year-old Newton boy died from influenza-related pneumonia.
These two cases are the latest in a series of flu-related deaths among children.
The first confirmed pediatric death associated with the flu involved a 6-year-old child from Suffolk County. The child, who died on March 2, suffered from a number of health problems that officials believe contributed to complications from the flu.
The second flu death happened on March 1, but was just recently reported to the DPH. This case involved a 14-year-old child from Middlesex County, who also had health problems that officials believe contributed to complications from the flu.
"This has been a very difficult flu season for the residents of Massachusetts," said Dr. Alfred DeMaria, DPH's Director of Communicable Disease Control. "While flu-related deaths of children are rare, tragically they do occur. These deaths are a reminder that flu is a serious illness that can result in severe consequences for children, particularly those with underlying medical problems."
This year's vaccine did not protect against one of the most aggressive strains of the disease, which has contributed to the problem. Manufacturers are already revamping the flu vaccine for next winter.
There have been nearly 11,000 confirmed cases of the flu here in Massachusetts so far this winter -- more than triple the number we had last year.
Click here or call the MDPH information line at 866-627-7968 to find a nearby flu clinic.
You can track how widespread the flu with the
CDC's Flu Tracker.
Is there something more you would like us to know about this story? Do you have a news tip to share with WBZ?
Email Us and be part of our news gathering team.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments