Flu claims life of second child in Mississippi

Published 2:41 pm Friday, February 23, 2018

JACKSON (AP) — Mississippi is reporting that a second child has died of flu this season.

The state Department of Health says Friday that the child died in central Mississippi. The department did not disclose the county where the death occurred.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there have been 97 pediatric flu deaths nationwide this season.

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The only Mississippi flu deaths that must be reported are for people younger than 18.

The Health Department has collected pediatric flu statistics since 2008. There have been 18 deaths since then, including the latest.

The department recommends flu shots for people 6 months and older.