Kentucky officials announce state’s first pediatric flu death this season
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
A child has died from influenza in Kentucky, the Kentucky Department for Public Health announced Friday, Feb. 9.
DPH reports that this is the first pediatric flu death in Kentucky this season and that the child was not vaccinated. No other details were given about the child.
“Influenza is on the rise across Kentucky,” Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health, said in a news release. “Unfortunately, viruses like influenza and Covid-19 are serious diseases that can be deadly to some people, including children. Vaccination is the best way to prevent severe illness and death.”
Flu vaccinations have declined in recent years, with less than 17% of Kentucky children having received a flu shot this season, and just 2% having received an updated Covid-19 vaccine, according to the release.
Kentucky reported its first Covid-19 pediatric death of the 2024-25 respiratory virus season in January.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu and Covid-19 vaccination, especially children younger than 5 or anyone with a high-risk medical condition.
“It is important for people who have not been vaccinated this season to get their updated influenza and Covid-19 vaccines as soon as possible, along with other recommended immunizations, to protect themselves and others,” Stack said.
The announcement comes as respiratory illness activity in Kentucky remains high and emergency department visits for acute respiratory illness are increasing. In addition, many schools across the state have closed or moved to non-traditional instruction days due to high rates of respiratory illness.
Health officials also encourage good health habits to prevent the transmission of flu and other respiratory illnesses. These include washing hands often with soap and warm water, covering coughs and sneezes and staying at home from work or school when sick.
DPH also encourages Kentuckians to pay attention to their symptoms, noting that while most flu and Covid-19 infections result in mild illness, some may have serious symptoms that require medical attention, such as “difficulty or fast breathing, seizures, bluish lips or face, high fever (above 104 degrees), fever or cough that improves but then comes back or gets worse, dehydration (e.g., reduced urine output, dry mouth, no tears when crying), or worsening of other medical conditions.”