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Central Mississippi Child Dies from Flu
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has confirmed the state’s first flu death of a child for the 2014-2015 flu season.
Pediatric flu deaths (deaths of individuals under 18 years of age) became reportable to MSDH in 2007, when the H1N1 flu virus was widespread. There have been a total of 14 pediatric flu deaths reported in Mississippi since then. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 49,000 people die and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu.
Flu is still active in Mississippi, and peak season will run well into March.
Influenza infections can lead to serious complications and in some cases, death, even in otherwise healthy individuals. While a flu vaccination can reduce the risk of complications, it’s also important to stay home when you’re sick to avoid infecting others, and to practice good hygiene: cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and wash hands frequently and thoroughly.
