Wisconsin reports first two child deaths of respiratory illness season

Two Wisconsin children have died from respiratory illness, the state health department announced Dec. 18, one from the flu and the other from COVID-19.

They are the first pediatric deaths in this year’s respiratory illness season.

Tom Haupt, respiratory disease epidemiologist for the Department of Health Services, said in a news conference that the child who died from the flu was from the northeast part of the state and the COVID-19 death was in western Wisconsin. Both children had underlying conditions that raised their risk of serious complications from the viruses, Haupt said, and health officials are working to track down their vaccination statuses.

The deaths are a reminder of how serious such viruses can be, Haupt said.

COVID-19 and flu virus activity across the state is low but increasing, according to state health department data from the week ending Dec. 13. Public health experts say holiday travel, a new flu strain and low vaccination rates could speed that increase. Haupt also noted increased flu activity in Milwaukee County in the past week detected in wastewater data.

Hospitalizations for flu and COVID-19 have also been ticking up in recent weeks, state health department data show. Sixty-seven people were hospitalized with COVID-19 during the week ending Dec. 13, and 134 with influenza.

Last year’s first pediatric flu death of the season came in January. There were five in total, Haupt said.

About 29% of Wisconsin residents have received the flu vaccine this season, state data show, and 10.6% have received the updated COVID-19 vaccine — numbers Haupt called “disappointing” and said were lower than last year. Children have the lowest updated COVID-19 vaccine uptake of any age group in Wisconsin, at just about 3%.

Health officials recommend that anyone 6 months and older be vaccinated for COVID-19 and the flu. To get vaccinated, residents can check with their doctor, health department, pharmacy or other community clinic. People who do not have health insurance can use programs such as the Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program.

(This story was updated to include new information.)

Madeline Heim covers health and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or [email protected].

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