The flu season is reportedly halfway through, but the affects have already been felt for the Garden State.
New Jersey, which has been categorized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as having "widespread" flu-related reports, has since its flu cases increase for another consecutive week.
According to New Jersey's Health Department, the virus took the life a 12-year-old girl from Bergen County, marking the fourth child to die from the flu this season in the state.
Just like the CDC, the health department does not monitor the death figures of adults.
According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, the confirmation of the little girl's death came as the state announced it latest flu report.
"While a small decrease in school absenteeism rates were reported, we have seen an increase in visits for influenza-like illness in some emergency departments," said Deputy Health Commissioner Arturo Brito.
New Jersey's "Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report" for the week ending on Jan. 19 has each region in the Garden State as "high" in flu activities, an change from "moderate" the previous week.
To view the New Jersey health report, click here.
So far, the 2012-2013 flu season has claimed the lives of 29 children nationwide, just five away from paralleling the 2011-2012 flu season total of 34. The mortality rate this season, so far, far low compared to the 2009-2010 season when 282 deaths were recorded.
CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said the average flu season lasts 12 weeks and currently departing week six.
"So, we're about in the middle. But only time will tell exactly what happens this year," Dr. Freiden added.
Flu symptoms include body aches, chills, cough, fatigue. fever, headache, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose.
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