This article first appeared on Michigan Live. Read more here.
Michigan has reported its first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2022-23 flu season.
A child in Ingham County has died after contracting influenza A/H3, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday, Feb. 23. The state declined to share any additional information about the child.
It’s Michigan’s first pediatric death of the current flu season, but there have been 111 flu-associated pediatric deaths nationwide. Last season, Michigan’s first pediatric flu death wasn’t reported until mid-April.
The current flu season spiked in Michigan in late December and early January before levels dropped off and returned to low/minimal levels of influenza-like illness, according to CDC surveillance data. Cases remain low as of mid-February, but the virus continues to spread.
Influenza A/H3 has been the most common strain seen by Michigan’s labs this season, according to MDHHS. It can cause severe flu infections in children and adults.
The strain is a component of this year’s flu shot, and it’s not too late to get vaccinated, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive.
“Once children reach six months of age it is recommended they receive two doses of the flu vaccine for their first series,” she said. “In addition, pregnant women should get the flu vaccine during each pregnancy. Flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.”
Health officials recommend everyone 6 months and older get the seasonal flu shot. About 33% of Michigan residents have been vaccinated this season, but the coverage for children 6 months to 17 years is only about 18.8% — down from 22.2% the previous season, according to data from the Michigan Care Improvement Registry.
Nationally, health officials estimate there have been at least 25 million flu infections across the country, with at least 12 million leading to medical visits and at least 280,000 requiring hospitalization since October. There have also been an estimated 18,000 to 56,000 flu deaths, according to the CDC.