Flu kills NJ child as cases reach 15M nationwide

A New Jersey child has died of the flu as virus cases surge nationwide.

The child, who was under 5 years old, was the Garden State’s first pediatric flu death of the season, the New Jersey Health Department said.

Eight children have died nationwide as cases of the “super flu” surge across the country, federal health authorities said.

About 15 million flu cases have been reported this season, with 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths according to CDC data.

“This flu season is already shaping up to be a very serious one, with more cases than previous years and, tragically, one child’s death this week. We extend our deepest condolences to the child’s family,” Acting NJ Health Commissioner Jeff Brown said.

Brown went on to urge New Jersey citizens to get vaccinated, which he said would reduce the spread of the flu and other respiratory viruses.

In NYC, Health Department said no children have died of flu this season, but did not provide any data on deaths.

Overall flu cases in New York City dropped from the previous week, with 12,000 cases reported as of Jan. 3; 128,000 New Yorkers have gotten the flu this season.

There have been nearly 270,000 cases of the flu in the Empire State, according to state data.

Statewide, New York saw its highest number of flu hospitalizations in a single week between Dec. 26, and Jan. 2.

There have been 17,833 hospitalizations in New York State this season, but cases are dropping. There were 43% fewer influenza cases reported from the previous week as of January 3, officials said.