RIVERSIDE – (INT) – The death of a 4-year-old child may suggest an early start to the flu season.

The child from Perris recently tested positive for influenza, health officials said Wednesday. The child had underlying health issues and died at a medical facility in another county.

It is considered the first pediatric flu-associated death of this flu season (2019-20) in Riverside County. There were nine flu-associated deaths in 2018-2019, and 23 during 2017-2018.

According to Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County Public Health Officer, “We should never forget that the flu still kills.” “I always recommend people get their flu shots every year, but a death so early in the flu season suggests this year may be worse than usual,” Kaiser said.

Story Date: September 20, 2019