North Carolina reports first pediatric flu deaths of 2024-25 as flu cases surge. Officials urge flu vaccination amid rising hospitalizations
Hyderabad: A nine-year-old Indian child and another nine-year-old native succumbed to flu complications in North Carolina, marking the first two pediatric flu-related deaths in the state in 2024-25.
In order to protect the privacy of the grieving families, the North Carolina department of health and human services (NCDHHS) is not giving additional details about the victims.
It has been reported that the flu season has been particularly severe in North Carolina, with 171 adult flu-associated deaths reported so far. State health officials stated in a press release that there has been a rise in flu cases in recent weeks.
This surge has led to increased hospital visits, with hospitals in the region reporting nearly 20 per cent of them being emergency cases with respiratory viral symptoms, double or thrice the rates during non-viral months.
North Carolina state epidemiologist Dr Zack Moore said "This is a sad reminder that seasonal influenza can be serious and, in some cases, even fatal."
He urged the people to immediately get the flu vaccine.
Meanwhile, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all eligible individuals receive a seasonal flu vaccine and an updated Covid-19 vaccine. The centre urged parents to consult healthcare providers about protecting infants from severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease, including vaccines for women during the 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy.
