Two children die from influenza in Oregon during Christmas week • Oregon Capital Chronicle

Two children died from the flu in Oregon during Christmas week, marking the first child deaths in the state in two years, state health officials said.

they are in it 11 people died According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of influenza infections among children nationwide. Influenza kills hundreds of people in Oregon each year, and the CDC says Number of deaths: 370 For the state, 2022 is the latest year available. However, Dr. Paul Cieslak, director of infectious diseases and immunization at the Oregon Health Authority, said deaths in children are relatively rare.

No children in Oregon died from the flu last year, or in the 2021-22 or 2020-21 seasons, but three in 2022-23 and three in the 2019-20 season, according to state data. 4 people died.

Last year's flu season was particularly deadly for children across the U.S., with 200 people dying from the flu, breaking the previous record set in 2019-2020, when 199 children died, according to the CDC.

Cieslak did not provide details about the Oregon children who died, only saying at a news conference Friday that they were under 18 and died during the week of Dec. 22-28. Their deaths are cited in the latest edition of health authorities. Weekly influenza updates Track hospitalizations in the Portland area. There are currently 146 people hospitalized with the flu in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties, according to the newsletter. Cieslak said more than 470 people have been hospitalized in the Portland area this season.

Flu season started in early October, but Czeslak said this year is normal, noting that each year takes a toll.

“Almost every season, we see hospitals filling up and overflowing with patients, and this year is no exception,” Cieslak said.

According to the CDC, this year's flu shot appears to be fairly effective against about 75% of circulating influenza strains. This vaccine is not as effective against the influenza A strain, which has been quite prevalent this year, but this strain is the least serious. Cieslak said the shot appears to be a good match for the H3N2 strain.

“Just over half of the cases are H3N2, which is the worst type,” Cieslak said.

Young children and the elderly are most susceptible to severe illness from this virus, and the elderly account for the majority of deaths. Anyone over the age of six months can receive a flu shot, so Cieslak urged everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

“Every season we see our children hospitalized with the flu,” Cieslak said. “But everyone is at risk.”

But only a minority of Oregonians get the flu shot. Cieslak said influenza vaccinations are down 4% this season, with 26% of eligible people getting vaccinated. But it's still not too late to get vaccinated, he said.

“We probably have another 10 or 12 weeks of flu season,” Cieslak said. “I highly recommend that you protect yourself from it.”

He said that while influenza season is at its peak in Oregon, RSV and respiratory syncytial virus cases appear to be on the rise. Although the number of people infected with the new coronavirus has stabilized, hospitals are no longer full of people infected with the new coronavirus as they have been in the past. Cieslak said that's likely because Oregonians are more immune to the disease, vaccinations and boosters.

Cieslak advised Oregonians to take normal precautions if they get sick. Stay home, stay away from others, cover your cough, and wash your hands. He said wearing a mask also helps and advised people to be careful of older people with chronic health conditions, who are most likely to get seriously ill from respiratory infections. He said to contact your health care provider at the first sign of symptoms.