The New Jersey Department of Health has received notification of a confirmed pediatric flu death, the first this influenza season in New Jersey.
“I am deeply saddened for the family of this young child, who experienced an unthinkable loss,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal.
Officials say the child, from the central region of the state, died in late December. For reasons of medical privacy, the Department will not be releasing additional information.
There is high flu activity throughout the state so it’s important for those who have not yet gotten a flu shot—especially health care workers—to get one. The Department of Health also recommends that people take the necessary precautions during this flu season: wash or disinfect your hands frequently, cover any coughs and sneezes, stay home and call your health care provider if you are sick (especially with a fever).
Residents can find flu vaccination clinics near them by calling their local health department or by visiting https://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/flu-finder-widget.html.
Local health department contact information can be found on this site: www.localhealth.nj.gov. To learn more about flu, please visit https://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/flu.shtml
Flu Information for Parents can be found on the Department’s website. For the Department's latest Weekly Flu Report, visit https://nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/flu-stats/.