Over 100 kids have died of flu this season. More than half were previously healthy

Over 100 children have died of the flu this season, the CDC reported Friday. Experts say vaccines are a key source of prevention.

More than 100 children have died of the flu this season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

The number of pediatric deaths — 103 so far — is not a seasonal record. While kids with underlying health problems are more at risk for severe outcomes from the flu, the latest CDC numbers provide a stark reminder that flu can indeed be devastating to any child.

“This is certainly sobering information, but it’s not something necessarily unexpected,” said Alicia Budd, head of the CDC’s domestic influenza surveillance team.

More than half of the children who died (53%) had no medical issues before their influenza infection, Budd said.

Among the 10 new pediatric deaths in the most recent report, most died within the last few weeks, Budd said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/kids-died-flu-2024-healthy-cdc-vaccination-rcna134963

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