The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 216 children have already died from the flu this season.
In a sobering update from the CDC, Friday’s report states that this is the the highest number of pediatric flu deaths recorded in 15 years.
“This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount, and one that — when the season is declared over, and they compile all the data — it’s almost certain to go up,” Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said in an interview with NBC News.
According to NBC News, the 216 pediatric deaths reported by the CDC, surpass the 207 deaths that were reported last year. This year’s total pediatric deaths are the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 global flu pandemic. It is extremely concerning as the current number is already high, and flu season is still going. The final pediatric death totals for the 2023-2024 flu season were not counted until autumn last year.
Why are these numbers skyrocketing? Well, according to Dr. O’Leary, who is also a University of Colorado pediatric infectious disease specialist, there are several contributing factors, among those, a drop in vaccinations.
The flu vaccination rate for children in the U.S. has dropped from about 64% in 2020 to 49% this season.
According to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of children admitted into the hospital went from 959 in January to 2,348 in February, and that number is unfortunately climbing, as doctors have said that this is among the worst flu seasons in recent history. The CDC has actually categorized this flu season for children as “highly severe”.
“Death is obviously the most severe outcome, but there is a huge spectrum between well and not well,” Dr. Anika Patel, a pediatric critical-care doctor in Washington, D.C., told the Washington Post in a recent interview. “The flu can take a previously healthy kid and land them on a ventilator.”
There is good news on the horizon as it seems that flu indicators are waning; however, parents should be vigilant and continue to encourage their children to wash hands properly, use sanitizer, follow proper cough and sneeze etiquette. Parents, remember, keep your children home if they are sick!