Houston girl dies of flu, first local pediatric case this season



>>>See ways to avoid catching the flu this year ... A Houston 12-year-old has died of flu-related causes, the city's first pediatric death of the year.

>>>See ways to avoid catching the flu this year ... A Houston 12-year-old has died of flu-related causes, the city's first pediatric death of the year. Photo: Helen L. Montoya, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Helen L. Montoya, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Houston girl dies of flu, first local pediatric case this season 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

A 12-year-old Houston girl has died of flu-related causes, the year's first pediatric death in Houston and the second in the region.

The girl was sick most of February and hospitalized before succumbing to the disease at the end of the month, Houston health officials said. She had pre-existing conditions and suffered from multiple organ failures, they said.

"It's always tragic to us when a child in the area dies of the flu," said Porfirio Villarreal, spokesman for the Houston health department. "It's important that families get the flu shot, particularly when there are vulnerable patients among them."

ANOTHER CASE: Young girl dies from flu in Galveston County

The death, the state's seventh this season involving a child, was reported to the Texas Department of Health earlier this week. It was included in city and state flu reports released Friday.

The first pediatric death in the region this year, a 6-year-old girl, was reported in March by Galveston County health officials. She died Feb. 5, just three days after developing symptoms, while being treated at an area hospital for an existing medical condition.

The season's other pediatric deaths included three in north Texas, one in Central Texas and one in the Rio Grande Valley. The first occurred in October and the next four were in January.

Still, the number of pediatric deaths in Texas is down from last season, when the flu killed 17 Texas children and 12,598 people. That season was the worst in a decade, nationally and in Texas.

But flu season shows no sign of going away in Houston and Texas. The state's latest flu report classifies activity level as high and Houston continued to hold steady, with 2,300 flu-related visits to hospital ERs in the last week. That's down slightly from earlier in the season but more than usual this late in the season, which is typically runs from November to early March.

"We're still dealing with the flu out there and may be for a few more weeks," said Villarreal.

Dr. Michael Chang, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at Children's Memorial Hermann, said he doubts "we'll see a second surge going forward." He noted that though "we may have a longer flu season than the past few years," there are fewer hospitalizations and fewer positive tests.

Houston health officials said they don't yet know if the girl who died had been vaccinated. The girl in Galveston County had not, health officials said.

The Houston girl tested positive for Influenza B, the Galveston County girl for Influenza A.

Health officials emphasized it is not too late to get the flu vaccine. This year's is considered a good match, reducing the risk of illness by around 47 percent. Last year's vaccine reduced the risk by 36 percent.

Anyone 6 months or older can get a flu shot. If children age 9 or younger are getting the vaccine for the first time, they need two doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.