Health Department Warns of Rising Influenza Deaths Among Children

Health authorities in Puerto Rico are urging increased vaccination efforts following the death of a 6-year-old child and a rise in influenza cases. The Puerto Rico Department of Health has recorded four pediatric influenza deaths, according to reports from Primera Hora, El Nuevo Día, and El Vocero de Puerto Rico.

The death of the 6-year-old child, who was not vaccinated against the virus, has prompted the Department of Health to emphasize the importance of immunization to prevent severe outcomes in children, as reported by Metro Puerto Rico.

Record Pediatric Deaths in the United States

The situation in Puerto Rico mirrors a broader, severe trend across the United States. The 2024-25 influenza season saw a total of 289 child deaths, marking the highest number of pediatric deaths reported in a non-pandemic season since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began national tracking in 2004.

A CDC report published on September 25, 2025, noted that through September 13, 2025, 280 influenza-associated pediatric deaths had been reported, representing a national rate of 3.8 deaths per 1 million children. The median age of the children who died was 7 years.

Data indicates that vaccination status is a critical factor in these outcomes. Approximately 90 percent of reported pediatric deaths during the season occurred in children who were not fully vaccinated, according to reports from CIDRAP and the New York City Health Department.

Local Impact and Regional Data

In New York City, the Health Department reported on February 5, 2026, that four pediatric flu deaths had occurred during the season. This announcement came as the city reported more than 144,000 positive flu cases, with 52 percent of those cases occurring among children under 18.

This flu season brought an early and rapid rise in flu cases compared to the last two flu seasons, especially among children. Sadly, we’re now reporting four pediatric flu deaths in New York City this season. No one should lose a child to a disease for which the most serious of outcomes can often be prevented by vaccination

Dr. Michelle Morse, New York City Acting Health Commissioner

The NYC Health Department noted that while flu cases had seen several weeks of decline by February 2026, the virus continued to circulate, and cases often increase again during that time of year.

Clinical Findings and Viral Strains

Influenza A viruses were the primary driver of pediatric fatalities, associated with 86 percent of the deaths reported by the CDC. Specifically, Influenza A(H3N2) has been a dominant strain.

According to CIDRAP, genetic characterization of 1,354 Influenza A(H3N2) viruses revealed that 92.4 percent belonged to subclade K. This specific subclade contains mutations that allow the virus to evade immunity provided by the current season’s flu vaccine formula.

Beyond vaccination status, underlying health conditions played a significant role in severity. The CDC reported that 56 percent of children who died from influenza had at least one underlying medical condition.

National Health Impact

The cumulative impact of the 2024-25 season was extensive across all age groups. The CDC recorded at least 25 million flu-related illnesses, 330,000 hospitalizations, and 20,000 deaths nationwide.

The cumulative flu-related hospitalization rate reached 73.3 per 100,000 people, the third highest since the 2010-11 season. Children experienced the second-highest cumulative hospitalization rate for their age group since that same period.

Public health guidance remains consistent: all individuals aged 6 months and older who do not have contraindications are advised to receive an annual influenza vaccination to prevent the virus and its associated complications.