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A child died after contracting the flu in Kent County, health officials say, the county’s first such death this season.
According to the Kent County Health Department, the death is the third in the state during the 2025-26 flu season.
The health department did not release information about the child.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this young life to influenza,” Adam London of the Kent County Health Department said in a statement. “This tragedy reminds us that influenza can have serious consequences, especially for our children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.”
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, more than 4,000 patient visits have been recorded this flu season due to influenza-like illnesses.
As of the end of February, 90 influenza pediatric deaths had been recorded across the nation, according to MDHHS.
The Kent County Health Department recommended everyone 6 months and older get annually vaccinated.
Pediatrician Dr. Kira Sieplinga told News 8 Thursday she sees seasonal virus spikes during the winter months of every year.
“We want to remind parents every year, especially during this time of spike, that our viruses aren’t just a little cold,” she said. “For many of us, they are. And that’s wonderful, that our bodies are strong, our immune systems are strong and we can fight off the cold systems that we have. But RSV and influenza have high risk of complications.”
Pediatrician Dr. Kira Sieplinga stressed the importance of taking any symptoms seriously and advised parents to continue to be proactive amid a rise in RSV numbers.
“We should continue to be cautious when we’re around people who are sick,” she said. “And when our children have sick symptoms and take the precautions that we have available to us to prevent those complications.”