First Flu-Related Pediatric Death Reported In Colorado Since 2013

A child in El Paso County on Colorado’s Front Range has become the state’s first flu-related pediatric death since 2013. The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that no identifying information was released about the child, but the county’s medical director said he or she had not been vaccinated against the disease. Influenza is widespread across the United States this season, and the Four Corners states are no exception. The Denver Post reports nearly 1600 people, three times the usual number, have been hospitalized so far with the illness in Colorado. In New Mexico, the Albuquerque Journal reports there have been seven deaths so far from flu, all among adults, compared to none at this point in the season last year. The Journal says New Mexico also has about three times as many cases as usual. Utah does not appear to be quite as hard hit, but Arizona has seen nearly 13,000 more confirmed flu cases to date this season compared to last season. Those include three pediatric deaths, all in Maricopa County in southern Arizona. Experts say this year’s outbreak is proving especially bad because the flu vaccine is only about a 30 percent match against the dominant strain of flu that cropped up this season. Influenza viruses mutate rapidly, making it difficult to predict which will be prevalent in coming months. Experts still advise getting vaccinated, because they say even if the vaccine doesn’t provide perfect protection, it can lessen the symptoms if you do get sick. The flu season typically continues through February.