NORFOLK, Va. — The Virginia Department of Health announced the first reported influenza-associated pediatric death for the 2023-2024 flu season.
The child was somewhere between 5 and 12 years old and lived in the state’s eastern region, according to VDH. The department did not go into detail on the circumstances surrounding the death beyond noting that the child died from “complications associated with influenza.”
The department is encouraging Virginians to get the flu vaccine.
“Even though the flu is common, it can cause serious illness and even death. I urge everyone eligible to receive the flu vaccine to do so not only to protect themselves but to protect those around them,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton.
VDH recommends taking the following steps:
- Everyone six months & older should receive a yearly flu vaccine, consulting your healthcare provider as needed.
- Practice good preventive health with hand hygiene (washing your hands regularly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer), respiratory etiquette (coughing and sneezing into a tissue or the inside of your elbow rather than your open hand), and staying home when you feel sick; and
- If you do become sick with the flu, seek healthcare early in your illness if necessary. Antivirals prescribed by a healthcare provider are a treatment option for some patients and can help prevent serious flu complications.
VDH anticipates that flu cases will increase in the state as it gets colder. Last week (Dec. 17 – 23), nearly 7% of emergency department and urgent care visits were related to flu-like illnesses – especially among young children and school-aged children, the department says.
VDH said it's important to teach kids how to stay healthy.
"Making sure that our kids are washing their hands, practicing washing their hands and teaching good respiratory etiquette of coughing into our elbows instead of our open hands," said Elena Diskin, a respiratory disease program manager for the Virginia Department of Health.
Right now, just over 25% of Virginians have reported that they got the flu vaccine this season, according to VDH. They advised visiting this website or contacting a local health department for information on how to get vaccinated.
"We anticipate that respiratory activity will continue to increase with folks gathering for the holidays with their friends and family," Diskin said.
Diskin also said RSV activity is elevated as well, but it's starting to decrease.
North Carolina also reported an increase in flu-related hospitalizations. Since Oct. 7, 2023, the state saw 30 deaths associated with the flu, including three children.
"So we're really hopeful that we passed that peak of RSV activity a few weeks ago, in late November," Diskin said.
Dr. Anna Peoples at Peoples Pharmacy in Norfolk said she's seen more people coming to get remedies for viruses and infections. She said the current virus strains are harder to treat.
"They're more contagious. They're easier to catch," Peoples said. "But it's harder to get rid of the virus or to get rid of the symptoms of the viral attack."
Even Dr. Peoples said she recently found herself fighting an infection recently.
"I can usually shorten the duration of a cold or viral infection within three days but this time, it took me about five days to get rid of the virus," Peoples said.
She said it's key to start acting immediately as soon as you start feeling yourself getting sick.
"You immediately want to take Vitamin C," she said. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, that will lessen a cold that's 2,000 milligrams twice a day."
Avoid dairy products, Dr. Peoples told News 3's Jay Greene. Those products can cause mucus formation in the lungs.
For respiratory infections, Dr. Peoples highly recommends elderberry syrup, which targets inflammation in the lungs.
Zinc will also help fight a virus, Dr. Peoples told Greene.
"Zinc will kill a virus," she said.
Above all, Dr. Peoples said it's important to stay hydrated.
"So here's a tip when you're going out to your parties: First, you're going to get a zinc swab. Then, you're going to get a zinc lozenge. And while you're in the company of other folks, you're going to be sucking on the zinc. That way you're prophylactically protecting yourself against getting infected," Peoples said.
Above all, Peoples said it's important to stay hydrated.
"You'd be surprised at how many people don't drink water, but water is part of your body," she said.
