State reports 2 more Kentucky children have died from flu, bringing total to 3 pediatric flu deaths this season
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
The Kentucky Department for Public Health announced two more Kentucky children have died from influenza, one from the Barren River District and the other from Jefferson County.
This is the third pediatric flu death in Kentucky this flu season; the first pediatric flu death was reported in February, and no details were given about the child.
Dr. Steven Stack, DPH commissioner, urged Kentuckians to get vaccinated and to follow good hygiene practices to prevent the flu.
“It is important that we take the necessary precautions, such as staying up to date on vaccinations, washing hands regularly with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick, to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the harm that viruses such as influenza and Covid-19 can cause,” he said in a news release.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has described this flu season as the worst in over 15 years. DPH reports that in the week ended March 6, 124 Kentuckians had died from the flu. The two new child flu deaths will be reflected in the March 13 report.
Though most influenza and Covid-19 infections result in mild illness, DPH says serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizures, high fever (>104°F), dehydration (e.g., reduced urine output, dry mouth, no tears when crying), or worsening of other medical conditions require medical attention. Antiviral treatment for flu and Covid-19 are also recommended for some individuals to reduce the severity of the illness.
“We share this information not to scare folks, but to let them know that illnesses like the flu and Covid-19 can become serious,” said Stack. “Fortunately, there are precautions people can take to decrease the risk of serious illness. Vaccines are safe and effective at lowering one’s risk of infection, hospitalization and death.”
The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated every flu season. And because it takes up to two weeks for protection to develop after getting the vaccine, the sooner you get it the better. Flu season runs through April, and sometimes May.
DPH also encourages those who have already had the flu this season to still get vaccinated to prevent an infection with a different subtype of the virus.