An infant living in Erie County recently died from complications relating to the flu. Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein says it is the first confirmed flu-related death in the county this season. The child, who was under six months old, died from Influenza A over the New Year holiday. The infant is the second child to die from the flu this season in New York State.
"Our thoughts and sympathies go out to this child’s parents and family during this time of unimaginable loss," said Burstein, in a statement.
Children under six months are too young to receive the flu vaccine, but Burstein says it's not too late for others to be vaccinated, especially if they are in contact with a young infant with Influenza.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the effectiveness of this year's flu vaccine to be only 23 percent.
