The Galveston County Health District confirmed on Monday its first flu-related death of the flu season. The district reported that a six-year-old girl passed away on February 5 while being treated at an area hospital for an existing medical condition. She developed flu symptoms and local health officials believe the virus was a factor in her death.
The patient developed flu symptoms on February 2 and was tested on February 3. Results were positive for Influenza A and the child was not vaccinated for the flu, according to a news release from the Galveston County Health District.
The child wasn't from the United States and had been hospitalized in Galveston County since October of 2018. The Department of State Health Services lists her flu-related death as the first this year in Galveston County.
Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people, especially children, may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may also be infected with flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
The best way to avoid an influenza infection is to get vaccinated every year.