Michigan state health officials reported the first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2018-2019 flu season in a child from Osceola County who was infected with influenza A/H1N1.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Friday, seven flu-related pediatric deaths have been reported to date.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) says the majority of the positive influenza specimens confirmed this flu season have been an H1N1 virus.

Nationally, CDC reports influenza activity in the United States is increasing. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, influenza A(H3N2), and influenza B viruses continue to co-circulate with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses are predominating in most areas of the country.

However, over the last three weeks influenza A(H3N2) viruses  have been most common in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee).

Influenza: 80,000 people died from flu last season according to CDC estimates

Flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by different strains of the influenza virus and can result in mild to severe illness.

Severe flu outcomes are a somber reminder of how serious flu can be, even for otherwise healthy people. Flu vaccination protects against flu illness and reduces the risk of flu complications, including flu-associated hospitalization, admissions to the intensive care unit, and even death in children.

Michigan reports two additional AFM cases