Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk:NEW YORK (WABC) –Officials confirmed the third pediatric flu death in New York City of this 2017-18 flu season Friday.
Details about the child, the death, or when it happened have not been released.
“The tragic death of a child due to the flu is a reminder of the devastating effects this illness can have on people of all ages,” the NYC health department said in a statement. “The influenza season is far from over, and it is not too late to get the flu shot. We urge parents to protect themselves and their families by getting this potentially life-saving vaccine today.”
So far this season, two seperate NYC children have died from the flu, including an 8-year-old girl from Queens, officials said.
Amely Baez, from the Elmhurst section of Queens, was rushed to the hospital, where she died at about 6:30 a.m. Monday.
No details have been released about the other child, other than saying it was a pediatric patient from New York City.
“This time last year, we had about four deaths and unfortunately, not speaking to these individual cases, among children who die of the flu usually the vaccination rates are low,” NYC’s Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett told abc7NY. “We really want to see children vaccinated.”
Flu vaccines are available at pharamcies for children as young as two. For more information, New Yorkers can call 311, visit nyc.gov/flu or text “flu” to 877877.
This is a breaking news story. Keep checking abc7NY for the latest information.
