NEW YORK (AP) — Extra U.S. kids have died this flu season than at any time because the swine flu pandemic 15 years in the past, in response to a federal report launched Friday.
The 216 pediatric deaths reported by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention eclipse the 207 reported final yr. It’s essentially the most because the 2009-2010 H1N1 world flu pandemic.
It’s startling that the quantity already is that this excessive, provided that the flu season continues to be occurring. The ultimate pediatric loss of life tally for the 2023-2024 flu season wasn’t counted till autumn.
“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,” mentioned Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
There are probably a number of contributors to this season’s severity, however a giant one is that fewer kids get flu photographs, added O’Leary, a College of Colorado pediatric infectious ailments specialist.
The flu vaccination charge for U.S. kids has plummeted from about 64% 5 years in the past to 49% this season.
Flu vaccinations could not stop folks from coming down with signs, however analysis exhibits they’re extremely efficient at stopping hospitalizations and deaths, O’Leary mentioned, including that the decline in vaccinations “is certainly playing a role” on this season’s lack of life.
The season has not solely been arduous on kids. CDC officers have described it as “ highly severe,” and estimate that thus far there have been no less than 47 million sicknesses, 610,000 hospitalizations and 26,000 deaths this season.
The excellent news is that flu indicators have been waning since February.
The Related Press Health and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely liable for all content material.
