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The 2024-25 flu season has been the deadliest for Michigan children since the state began tracking pediatric flu deaths.
Health officials reported three additional flu-associated pediatric deaths in recent weeks, bringing the season total to 10. The previous two seasons each finished with eight.
Of the latest deaths, one each was reported in Berrien, Muskegon and Genesee counties. The previous cases were reported in Genesee, Kent, Macomb and Wayne counties, as well as one death somewhere in the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph community.
State health officials have declined to share additional details about pediatric flu deaths, including their age, if there were underlying health issues contributing to the death, and if the child was vaccinated.
Nationally, there have been 216 pediatric flu deaths reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this year. That’s the highest total for a non-pandemic season, according to the CDC.
Flu season in Michigan typically runs from October through May. This year, viral activity peaked in mid-February during a particularly severe season, before declining throughout March and April.
Caregivers at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids said kids were coming in sicker than usual this year. More patients had co-infections, and more were in need of breathing help, including ventilation.
“This year it seems to be hitting even otherwise healthy children,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rosner, section chief of the children’s hospital ICU.
Children younger than age 5, and especially those younger than 2, are at greater risk of developing serious flu-related complications. Health officials recommend getting them vaccinated against the flu annually.
This year’s flu shot uptake was the lowest in at least six years. With about 2.8 million doses administered, Michigan was down about 86,000 doses from last year, and about 1.2 million doses from its stated goal.
As of the week ending April 26, most of the country had minimal flu-like illness activity.