Girl's death brings flu facts home

We've heard the advice many times before, and even read it in this space:

Wash your hands often.

Avoid contact with people who are sick.

Stay home from work, family gatherings and social functions if you're sick.

Eat healthy and get plenty of rest.

Don't smoke.

But the anti-flu sermon really hit home this week, with the report that a girl, younger than 12, actually died from the flu last weekend.

According to state health officials, the Lancaster County girl was affected in an unusual way, the virus attacking the muscles in her body.

She started experiencing symptoms last week, and went to the hospital, they said.

"This is a very sad situation and our thoughts are with the family," said Dr. Joann Schaefer, chief medical officer for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System. "Unfortunately, it's not unusual for there to be some child deaths during the normal flu season, but they have been extremely rare in Nebraska."

This year's flu seems to be affecting more children than adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that may be because they are especially vulnerable.

The CDC recommends flu shots for children between 6 months and 5 years old, and most adults either have been vaccinated or have some sort of immunity because they've had the flu.

While most of us have already made our flu vaccination decisions for this year, perhaps we should reassess for next year and see to it that everyone in the family, especially school-age children, received a flu shot next year.