Illinois and North Carolina reported the first influenza-related deaths among children in their respective states this flu season.
Illinois reported a flu death Jan. 9 in Chicago. No other information was provided about the child who died due to patient privacy.
North Carolina also reported a death Jan. 9, though the child died in December, in the Western part of the state. The state's health department also declined to provide any more information about case, citing the need to protect the family's privacy.
As of Dec. 28, there were 27 pediatric deaths due to the flu this season, the highest death toll seen this early in the season in 17 years, when the CDC first started tracking flu data.
The CDC estimates 6.4 million people have been sickened, and 2,900 have died, this flu season.