The first child in Florida has died of the flu this season, according to a state

(CNN) – A child from Florida has died from an influenza-related illness during the week ended Oct. 6, according to the state's Department of Health. The child, the first to die in the state, had not been vaccinated against the flu.

Health officials in Florida have identified the deadly strain as influenza B, which is less common and generally less serious than influenza A, although both strains infect humans. The child, who was healthy before falling ill with the flu, had no known health problems, according to the Department of Health. Additional information, including the age of the child, has been concealed to protect the privacy of the family.

Dr. Richard Webby, a faculty member of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, said, "Unfortunately, that's what the flu does. can be a pretty serious infection for young children, so it's tragic, nothing we expected from the flu. "

Florida was not the only one to report a death due to the flu so early in the season.

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A middle-aged woman living in central Kentucky also died of an influenza-related illness during the second week of October, according to Beth Fisher, spokeswoman for the Kentucky Cabinet. for health and family services. It is not known if the woman had underlying health problems or if she had received a flu shot.

Lynnette Brammer, head of the National Influenza Surveillance Team at the US Centers for Disease Control and Protection, said that "it's not uncommon to start to see a small number of deaths due to the flu at this time of year, even when the activity is weak ".

In fact, the activity is "very weak" now, she said.

"There are mainly influenza A viruses, there are some influenza viruses," said Brammer. Among the influenza A viruses in circulation, H1N1 strains are more common than H3N2, she said.

This is good news for Webby's ears. H3N2, he said, is "the virus that still causes the most diseases and is the one against which the vaccine has the most difficulty protecting itself".

While he believes that an influenza season forecast is "probably less accurate than that of weather forecasts," Webby said there were two reassuring signs that the 2018-19 influenza season will be over sweet that last season, with its high number of hospitalizations and a record 80,000 deaths across the country.

Two positive signs for the 2018-19 season

A positive sign is that "activity in the southern hemisphere has been generally very moderate," said Webby.

In its latest influenza surveillance report, the Australian government's health ministry said the severity of its season, which had already peaked in early September, was "moderate" and had a "low" impact on society. in general. The majority of confirmed cases were cases of influenza A, mainly H1N1, a strain known to be more benign than others.

Although a lenient season does not always translate into a lenient season in the northern hemisphere, the fact remains that last year 's tough season in Australia already announced ours.

A second factor suggesting that we are unlikely to have another major H3N2 season is "we circulated a lot of this virus last year," Webby said. "So, there will be a lot of people who are going to have increased immunity against this virus."

Like Webby, Brammer does not predict the upcoming season. Nevertheless, she added, "the time has come for people to get vaccinated so that they are ready for this season because we know it will happen."

"Basically, everyone aged 6 months and over should be vaccinated," said Brammer. "If you are pregnant, get vaccinated, as this will protect you and help protect your baby at birth."

Children who receive a flu shot for the first time will need two inoculations. So it's a good time to receive the first vaccine, so that the second can be prepared before the activity resumes in winter, she said.

Several vaccine options have been approved by the CDC this season.

With respect to the conventional flu vaccine, the CDC makes no "preferential recommendation" between the vaccine that protects against three influenza strains and the vaccine that protects against four influenza strains. The vaccines developed on cells and eggs are also acceptable according to CDC standards.

Flumist, an aerosol nasal spray, is a needle-free option available for children ages 2 to 49, while two high-pressure injection injector vaccines do not require needles and can be used by any elderly person from 18 to 64 years old.

"We are happy to have as many options as possible," said Brammer.

Webby suggested that we all keep in mind "the usual stuff your grandmother told you." This homemade advice includes good hand washing and if you (or your children) are sick, stay home.

Nevertheless, the "biggest message," said Webby, a member of the influenza vaccine composition group of the World Health Organization, is vaccination. Even when the vaccine does not prevent the disease, it decreases the severity of the disease and can prevent hospitalization, experts say.

"We are all very open to the fact that the flu vaccine is not the best vaccine and we really need to improve it," he said. "But it's still an effective tool, it's time to get vaccinated."