Tarrant County child dies from influenza in 1st pediatric flu death of the season

Ciara McCarthy
·1 min read

A Tarrant County child has died from influenza in the county’s first pediatric flu death of the season, according to a news release from the county’s public health department.

The news release did not include any identifying information about the child, but noted that the child did have an underlying medical condition.

This is the third Texas child to die from the flu so far in the 2023-24 flu season, according to the news release. Pediatric flu deaths are defined as a death in a child under 18 that resulted from a confirmed cause of influenza, according to the state health department. Nationwide, there have been at least 65 confirmed pediatric flu deaths, according to federal data.

This is the first local child to die from influenza since the 2019-20 flu season, according to Tarrant County Public Health.

Public health experts recommend that everyone six months of age and older get an seasonal flu shot to reduce their chances of becoming seriously ill or dying from the flu.