Five More Child Flu Deaths Reported as Influenza B Surge Concerns Doctors
Five more children have died from flu-related complications in the past week, raising the total number of pediatric fatalities in the United States this season to 71. This latest figure represents a slight increase compared to the 2024-2025 flu season, which recorded 68 child flu deaths by February 2025. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 90 percent of this year's child flu deaths have occurred in children who were not fully vaccinated against the virus.
Rising Influenza B Cases Pose Severe Threat to Children
One of the recent deaths has been linked to influenza B, a strain known to be more severe in children. Levels of influenza B have been steadily rising in recent weeks, with cases accounting for just over 45 percent of infections by Valentine's Day, while influenza A made up nearly 55 percent. In the previous week, influenza B cases comprised nearly 33 percent of infections, compared to over 67 percent for influenza A. Doctors across the nation are bracing for a surge in influenza B, which typically peaks during the latter half of America's flu season, which runs from October to May.
"I think we are going to see some flu B, especially activity over the next few weeks, because we are seeing some percentages that are kind of stuck and not continuing to trickle down," stated Dr. Claudia Hoyen of University Hospitals in an interview with Cleveland's FOX 8. "The thing, though, that has been a little bit worrisome for us this year is that we are seeing a lot of children with complications from the flu," she added.
Complications and Symptoms of Influenza B in Children
Influenza B shares many similarities with influenza A but can lead to more severe symptoms in children, including seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to Cleveland Clinic infectious disease doctor Sherif Mossad. The infection can also result in serious complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma exacerbations, heart disease, respiratory failure, and brain swelling, as noted by the Children's Hospital of Orange County.
Additionally, influenza B may cause intense limb pain known as viral myositis, which can temporarily impair a child's ability to walk. "Influenza B is more common with viral myositis," explained Dr. Mustafa Bakir, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare.
Current Flu Statistics and Regional Impact
At the beginning of last year, only eight percent of cases for the week ending February 15 were influenza B, highlighting the recent surge. Currently, flu activity is highest in Oregon, Missouri, and Louisiana, with elevated levels persisting across much of the southern United States. So far this season, there have been at least 23 million flu cases, 300,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths overall.
The CDC has also reported an additional child death from the previous flu season, bringing the total number of pediatric fatalities for that period to 290. This ongoing update underscores the persistent threat of influenza and the critical importance of vaccination, particularly for children, to mitigate severe outcomes and fatalities.
