CDC reports 105 pediatric deaths due to influenza this season
With the addition of six influenza-associated pediatric deaths during the most reporting period, the total is now at 105 during the current 2012-2013 flu season, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) weekly Fluview report Friday.
The 105 pediatric deaths were reported from 36 states. This compares to the 34 pediatric flu deaths reported during the 2011-2012 flu season.
Of the six fatalities this week, one of the deaths was associated with 2009 H1N1 virus and 5 of the deaths were associated with influenza B viruses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a warning that parents should take heed, especially because 90 percent of the children who never recovered had not been vaccinated.
In addition, 60 percent of deaths occurred in children who were at high risk of developing serious flu-related complications, but 40 percent of these children had no recognized chronic health problems. The proportions of pediatric deaths occurring in children who were unvaccinated and those who had high-risk conditions are consistent with what has been seen in previous seasons.
The CDC says while influenza activity continues to decline across key flu indicators, significant flu activity is ongoing in much of the country.
Flu activity overall nationally has decreased with only seven states reporting widespread geographic influenza activity for the week of March 10-16; a decrease from eight states in the previous week.
Michigan is the only state reporting high influenza-like illness (ILI) activity, while five other states and New York City are reporting moderate ILI activity.
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