PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A child has died from the flu in New Jersey, state health officials confirmed Friday.
The child, from North Jersey, was under 5 years old and had no known underlying medical conditions. This is the first reported pediatric flu death of the 2025–26 season in the state.
Dr. Karen Ravin, chief of infectious disease at Nemours Children’s Health, said typical flu symptoms include a fever, sore throat, coughing, nasal congestion and gastrointestinal issues, like vomiting and diarrhea.
“It’s important to remember that kids can also have some GI symptoms from flu,” Ravin said. “So they sometimes will have vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. People may think, ‘Oh, GI symptoms are the stomach bug,’ and not realize that it can actually be influenza.”
Acting Health Commissioner Jeff Brown said the season is already shaping up to be “very serious,” with higher case numbers than in previous years.
So far this season, the flu has sent at least 180,000 people to the hospital in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 7,400 flu-related deaths so far this season, with 17 flu-related pediatric deaths.
CDC data show many of the reported cases have been a new subtype of the virus called subclade K, which emerged after the current vaccine was distributed.
“That seems to be causing the majority of cases so far this season,” Ravin said. “The vaccine doesn't seem to have as great of a protection against that particular subclade as it does from other ones that are included in the vaccine.” Ravin noted that even though the flu vaccine isn’t a great match for the new subclade, it still protects against severe infection.
Officials advise practicing preventive measures, like frequent handwashing, wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces, and staying home when sick.