8-Year Old in McLean County Dies of Flu

McLean County officials say the flu was a contributing factor in the death of an 8-year-old girl.

Kera Simon of the McLean County Health Department says even though it's no longer peak flu season, it doesn't mean the season is over.

She says the 8-year-old girl died last week but there were other medical conditions that contributed to the death.

The girl's death is the second flu-related in McLean County.  A 54-year-old woman died of flu-related causes in November.

Simon says the is still  lot of the virus circulating in the community and state.

“In this case it was not a novel or new flu virus. It was influenza-B that contributed to the death," she said.  "But, there were other medical circumstances involved. And the death has been classified by the Illinois Department of Public Health as flu related.”

State health officials say flu activity in Illinois continues to be high and the virus struck earlier than usual.

More than 600 people statewide have been admitted to hospital intensive care units with the flu this season and at least 96 have died.