Pierce County child dies of flu-related complications
A young child died from flu-related complications last weekend, marking the second death of its kind in Pierce County so far this season.
Few details were released, but the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said the child was younger than 5 and suffered from underlying health conditions.
“Sadly, flu strains currently in circulation this season have hit the young very hard,” said Nigel Turner, division director for the Communicable Disease Control Division.
During the 2019-2020 season, at least 19 other children in that age range have died from the flu nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
This is the second flu-related death in Pierce County this season.
In late November, a man in his 80s died of flu-related complications.
Flu season extends from October to April.
In the 2018-2019 flu season, 42 Pierce County residents died of influenza. There were 31 fatalities the season before, and 50 flu-related deaths in Pierce County for the 2016-2017 season.
The virus is spread when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk.
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat and body aches.
This story was originally published December 23, 2019 at 3:00 PM.
