Officials say that a child is the first to die during the flu season in Florida



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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida health officials have declared that a child was the first to die during this year's flu season.

The Florida Department of Health Epidemiology Office reported that the unidentified child tested positive for influenza B and died between September 30 and October 6. The child had not been vaccinated.

During the first week of the influenza season, the state experienced only two such outbreaks. One was a nonspecific strain and the other was strep throat. The Tampa Bay Times reports that both strains have struck schools in Hillsborough County.

State officials said the outbreaks did not cause the death of the child. No other details have been published.

About 80,000 Americans died of the flu and its complications last winter – the heaviest toll of all deaths in at least four decades.

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Information from: The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune, http://www.tampatrib.com

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