They report Tarrant County’s first child flu death of 2024

Tarrant County reports its first childhood flu death this winter.

A statement from the Tarrant County Public Health Department said the boy, whose age and hometown were not disclosed, had underlying medical conditions. This is the first childhood flu death reported in Tarrant County since 2019-2020.

Read here: List of places to get flu shots in Dallas and Fort Worth

The health department said it would not release further details due to the sensitivity of the information and to protect the family’s privacy.

This is the third child to die from the flu in Texas this season. So far this season, the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 65 childhood influenza deaths.

Hospitals are dealing with a sharp increase in flu cases among children, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. At least 10 North Texas school districts have closed schools over the past month due to the illness.

School-age children in Texas are reportedly experiencing higher rates of emergency room visits for the flu, which is similar to national trends.

Doctors urge people to wash their hands frequently with soap and water; cover themselves with disposable tissues to control coughs and sneezes; stay home if you are sick from work or school and avoid running errands.

It’s not too late to get a flu shot, which is spread through coughing and sneezing. Everyone over 6 months old can get a flu shot. Vaccination is especially important for people at risk for severe influenza, including children under 2 years old, people over 65 years old, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions.

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