The current flu season is shaping up to be a severe one for children.
So far this season, 47 kids and teens have died from the flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday — a worrisome toll that experts say puts the U.S. on track with what was seen last flu season, a particularly bad one for children that ended with 183 pediatric deaths reported.
“We are probably going to at least meet or exceed that,” said Dr. Andi Shane, head of pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “We are seeing quite a notable season in terms of deaths.”
The increase in pediatric deaths comes amid an apparent slowdown in flu activity.