Five pediatric influenza-associated deaths were reported in the week ending Jan. 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bringing the total number to 16 for the 2024-’25 season.
Four of the deaths were associated with influenza A viruses that had subtyping performed; three were A(H1N1) viruses and one was an A(H3) virus. One death was associated with an influenza B virus with no lineage determined.
Seasonal flu activity remains elevated across most of the country, which is expected to continue for several more weeks.
Although some indicators have decreased or remained stable compared to the previous week, the CDC reports this could be due to changes in health care seeking or reporting during the holidays rather than an indication that influenza activity has peaked.
The AAP and CDC recommend everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. The vaccines can be given at the same time. In addition, eligible infants, high-risk toddlers, pregnant people and older people should get immunized against respiratory syncytial virus.
As of Dec. 28, 2024, 41.9% of children had received a flu vaccine, down from 44.7% at the same time last season. The percentage of children who received a flu vaccine varies by state, from 26.5% to 77.8%.
No new influenza A(H5) (bird flu) cases were reported to CDC in the week ending Jan. 4. To date, human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States. However, the first influenza A(H5)-associated death in the U.S. was reported Jan. 6 in Louisiana.
An additional pediatric death occurring during the 2023-’24 season also was reported. This death was associated with an influenza B virus with no lineage determined and occurred during the week ending April 6, 2024. In total, 207 pediatric flu deaths have been reported for the 2023-’24 season, a record for a non-pandemic season.
Resources
- AAP policy Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2024-2025
- AAP technical report Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2024-2025
- AAP clinical report Strategies for Improving Vaccine Communication and Uptake
- Information on flu from the CDC
- Information on flu for parents from HealthyChildren.org