2nd Child Dies From Flu This Season In Colorado

Colorado health officials have confirmed that a second child has died since the flu season began. Dozens of pediatric deaths have been recorded in the country so far this flu season.

A preschool-aged child in southern Colorado died from the flu, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed. The department does not have any records that show whether the child was vaccinated against influenza, health officials said.

No further details about the child's death were released to protect the family's privacy, the department said.

So far this flu season, there have been more than 1,700 hospitalizations and over two dozen outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

"While flu is circulating, it is not too late to get a flu shot, and we recommend everyone ages six months and older who has not had the yearly vaccine get it," the department said in a statement.

"Children who are younger than 9 years who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time, and those under 9 who have only previously gotten one dose of the vaccine, should get two doses of the vaccine. The first dose should be given as soon as the vaccine becomes available. The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose."

As flu-related illnesses nationwide climbed to nearly 19 million cases last week, one health expert said we could be in for a "double-barreled" flu season this year — which means you could catch the flu twice in one season.

While the B/Victoria strain dominated the start of the flu season — a strain largely immune to this year's flu shot — reported cases of the A/H1N1 strain are on the rise.

The flu virus continues to affect young people at an alarming rate. More than 50 percent of reported cases this flu season are in children and young adults under age 25.

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