NYC confirms first pediatric flu death of the season

A child from New York City has died of the flu, health officials announced on Thursday, marking the first pediatric flu-related death of the season.

Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot declined to provide any other details, citing patient privacy, but did confirm the individual was younger than 18.

“Every year, we see between zero and eight children die because of the flu,” Barbot said during an event at the Queens Central Library in Jamaica, urging people to get their flu shots. “So while pediatric deaths from the flu are not unusual, they are sad reminders of the consequences of not getting immunized.”

All New Yorkers are urged to get flu shots, especially children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, pregnant women and adults 50 and older.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 80,000 flu deaths in the United States last year. Statistics also show that 183 children — including five from New York City — died from influenza-related diseases.

“The flu season last year was one of the worst we have had in recent years,” said Barbot, who noted that while current flu activity in the city is low, it is expected to increase in the coming weeks.