3 Mass. children have died from flu this season, DPH says

Health

Health officials say it’s not too late to get vaccinated after 30 adults and three children have died amid the state’s early surge of flu cases.

Three children have died from the flu in Massachusetts in recent weeks, the state’s Department of Public Health said, as the state sees a surge in flu case numbers and severity. 

As of Dec. 27, one child and 29 adults had died from influenza, according to the state’s recent flu data. Two more pediatric patients have since died, DPH confirmed. 

“This is a moment for clarity, urgency, and action,” Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said. “These viruses are serious, dangerous, and life-threatening. We are seeing children who are seriously ill, families grieving devastating losses, and hospitals under capacity strain.”

Just before Christmas, Boston health officials reported an early 114 percent spike in flu cases, numbers that usually come in late January. That trend is reflected nationally, driven by a new variant.

Each region in Massachusetts has been ranked “very high” for influenza-like illness activity, according to DPH’s dashboard. The severity is ranked one classification lower at “high,” but hospitalizations and deaths are up.

Statewide, hospitals saw nearly 9,000 emergency department visits each day last week, DPH said, with about 25 percent of those related to respiratory illness like flu, COVID, and RSV. Flu is also driving up hospitals’ capacity levels, according to the state’s public health agency.

In Massachusetts, COVID and RSV remain low, DPH said, but officials are reviewing two possible COVID-associated deaths and one RSV-associated in children. 

Goldstein urged all residents and at-risk populations to get vaccinated against the flu and COVID. People older than 75, at-risk people older than 50, and pregnant people should be vaccinated against RSV, DPH said.

“There is a simple, effective, and available way to address these concerns: vaccines. They can prevent serious illness and hospitalization. And they save lives,” Goldstein said in a statement. “It is not too late. Choosing vaccination is choosing to protect yourself, your family, your friends, your colleagues, and your community.”

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.