
Massachusetts logs fifth pediatric flu death as season persists
Massachusetts health officials report a fifth pediatric death linked to influenza this season, with two deaths in the week of Dec. 21 and two more in the week of Dec. 28–Jan. 3; the fifth death is included in data through Jan. 10. Two of the children were under 2 and in Boston, the city’s first pediatric flu deaths since 2013. Adult flu deaths in MA total 107 for the season, with 45 in the Dec. 28–Jan. 3 week. Nationally, 32 children have died from flu this year, with about 18 million illnesses and 230,000 hospitalizations; the season is driven by the H3N2 strain, of which roughly 90% are a new variant not matched by this year’s vaccine. In MA, 470 flu-related deaths have occurred this season, up from 251 last season, as officials continue to urge vaccination.









