Three children have died from the flu in recent weeks, Mass. health officials say

BOSTON — Three children have died from the flu in Massachusetts in recent weeks, state health officials said Monday.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said one of the children’s deaths happened during the week of December 21st.

So far this season, 29 adults have died from the flu.

The Mass. DPH also reported that the number of cases rose four percent in the past week.

Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein urged Bay State residents to get vaccinated to protect themselves from the flu and COVID-19.

“This is a moment for clarity, urgency, and action,” Goldstein said. “These viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening. We are seeing children who are seriously ill, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under capacity strain. There is a simple, effective, and available way to address these concerns: vaccines. They can prevent serious illness and hospitalization. And they save lives. If you have not yet been vaccinated against flu or COVID-19 this season, now is the time. It is not too late. Choosing vaccination is choosing to protect yourself, your family, your friends, your colleagues, and your community.”

“It’s been a pretty alarming rise in cases, so we’re seeing more activity by every measure that we look at,” said Dr. Larry Madoff, Medical Director at DPH’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences for Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health says flu cases are sky high right now and only rising.

More than 30 people have already died from influenza across the state, including three children in recent weeks.

Doctors say those numbers are spiking earlier than usual.

“We’ve already reached nearly the peak that we saw last season, and as I say, last season was a bad season, things still seem to be moving up both in the state and nationally,” said Dr. Madoff.

DPH says hospitals and urgent care centers have been packed with flu patients.

Just last week the state says there were about 2,000 E.R. visits a day for influenza, and now doctors say the concern is only growing after 3 children died from the flu well before the usual peak season.

“Childhood deaths in influenza are tracked very carefully for obvious reasons,” said Dr. Paul Sax of Mass General Brigham’s Infectious Diseases Department. “Obviously the death of a child is particularly tragic for years of life lost and these are usually often previously healthy children.”

Doctors say the best protection against the flu is to get vaccinated, and there’s still plenty of time with flu season lasting well into the spring.

“There is still plenty of flu out there right now and it’s better late than never for vaccines,” said Dr. Adam Weston of Lowell General Hospital’s Infectious Diseases department. “Roughly it takes about 2 weeks to become fully active, but that being said any protection you can get right now is a good thing.”

Doctors say you may still get the flu even after getting a flu shot, but that vaccine should make your symptoms less severe and hopefully keep you out of the hospital.

Nine percent of all hospitalizations right now are flu related, according to the state.

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