The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory Friday after a child’s death was linked to influenza.
The advisory did not provide the age of the child or their county or town of residence, but said the death was the only “influenza-associated” pediatric death of the 2023-24 flu season in Maine.
The child tested positive for influenza B Victoria.
Influenza circulates in Maine throughout the year and at higher levels from early October to mid-May. It is more dangerous to children than the common cold.
The CDC recommends annual influenza vaccinations for all children six months and older who do not have contraindications. Clinicians should be aware that respiratory symptoms at any time of the year could be caused by influenza, and should consider influenza testing and treatment in patients with respiratory symptoms.
Since 2019, the Maine CDC has reported influenza-associated deaths in six children, and the U.S. CDC has reported 609 such deaths in children nationwide.
During the 2023-24 flu season, which ended May 18, the Maine CDC followed up on 75 outbreaks of influenza, facilities reported over 663 people hospitalized with confirmed influenza cases, and influenza was listed as a cause of death on 53 death certificates.
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