Deaths from flu continue to rise in Massachusetts

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- A seventh child in Massachusetts has died from the flu this season, bringing the total number of flu deaths in the Bay State to 260.

The death was reported last Friday as school districts across Western Massachusetts use February vacation week to deep clean facilities and eliminate lingering illnesses. “You don’t have a large group of people together, like students in a classroom or in a school, you’re going to have, and someone has flu, you’re going to have less spread of the flu,” said Dr. John Kelley of Redwood Pediatrics.

However, Kelley said the chance for the flu to spread remains high during the break. “They can still spread it to family members if they have flu and give it to family members who are more susceptible at higher risk,” he added.

Massachusetts is currently at a “moderate” level of flu cases, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, after peaking in December. Deaths from the illness continue to rise this season, with seven adult deaths reported in addition to the seventh child death last week.

Kelley said statistics show about 90 percent of children who have died from flu in recent years were not vaccinated. “So having said that, it’s not too late to vaccinate. It’s never too late to vaccinate,” he explained.

Getting the flu shot or nasal spray is the best way to protect against severe symptoms, Kelley said. Health officials recommend everyone over six months of age gets vaccinated, though contracting the flu remains possible since the virus mutates rapidly. “It just comes down to common respiratory hygiene and taking care of yourselves and taking care of your neighbors,” he noted.