First Infant Influenza Death Reported by CT

A child died earlier this week of the flu, the Ministry of Health said Friday.

It's the first infant-related death this season.

This brings to 29 the total number of flu-related deaths this season in the state.

"Our thoughts are with this child's family," health commission commissioner Raul Pino said in a statement. "For reasons of confidentiality, I can not provide any details about this child's illness. I can, however, emphasize the importance of children being vaccinated against the flu. In Connecticut, there have been pediatric deaths badociated with influenza 12 from the 2005-06 season to the 2017-18 season. Only two of these cases (17%) had evidence of current influenza vaccination. "

Influenza-related deaths of 18 years or younger have been reported in this state since 2005.

The Ministry of Health has stated that children under 5 – especially those under 2 years of age or those with long-term medical conditions – are at risk of serious complications from influenza, including pneumonia. or worsening of medical problems such as asthma, diabetes, and childhood illnesses. cardiac and nervous system. Rarely, flu can lead to death.

It is particularly important that all children are vaccinated against influenza by six months of age.

About 80% of children who have died of influenza in the country and in Connecticut have not been vaccinated against influenza.

Pino has urged residents of the state to be vaccinated against the flu for the rest of the season.

Of the 29 influenza-related deaths, 17 were people over 65, nine were aged 50 to 64, and three were 25 to 49 years old.

The flu remains prevalent in the state, according to the health department.

To date, 1,668 hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza have been admitted during the current season.

A total of 4,540 laboratory tests for influenza were reported during the current season: New Haven (1,287), Hartford (1,181), Fairfield (970), Middlebad (274), New London ( 261), Litchfield (261), 226), Windham (174), Tolland (91) and 76 in counties currently unknown.