Childrens health warning — flu virus and Staph infections are a deadly combination
More children have died from flu because they also had a staph infection, according to a new government report that urges parents to have their children get the flu shot.
The number of deaths wasn’t high — 73 during the 2006 — 2007 flu season, but there was more than a fivefold increase in the heart to treat complications.
And the luminary figures indicate deaths rose again during this past winter’s flu season.
Public health officials say the numbers underscore the importance of a new recommendation that all children, from six months through age 18 get routine flu shots.
Before this year, shots were recommended for children under five years old only.
More than half the children who died were between the ages of five and 17 and had been healthy until they got the flu.
Flu season is just beginning and this year’s vaccine should be widely available later this month. The CDC anticipates more than enough supply.
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