Nebraska reports first pediatric flu death of the season

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported a child in Nebraska has died from the flu, marking the first pediatric flu death of the 2025-26 season. The department did not release information about the child or whether they were vaccinated.

Across the country, 52 children have died from the flu this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DHHS said 22 adults in Nebraska have died from the flu since this illness season began.

According to influenza surveillance data submitted to DHHS, Nebraska is seeing a second wind of flu cases reported to health departments. Departments across the state recorded more than 1,500 Influenza A cases in the last week of December. That tapered off through January but spiked again at the end of the month. Positive Influenza B cases remain considerably lower.

Flu cases rose early in January across the country, and, according to the CDC, the number of people sick rose faster, compared with previous years. The surge appears to be driven by a new strain of the virus – subclade K of influenza A (H3N2). It emerged in Australia over the summer.

After the number of flu cases peaked and then subsequently subsided in January, Nebraska hospitals started seeing more patients sick with the flu. On Jan. 2, Kearney Regional Medical Center started requiring many of its staff members and hospital visitors, including those seeking care, to wear masks.

Health officials recommend people visit their local clinics to get tested if they’re battling an illness and suspect that it’s the flu. Antiviral drugs like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can be considered as early as possible for people with flu. DHHS says Tamiflu can safely treat symptoms in infants as young as two weeks old.

While the flu can make anyone sick, certain groups of people are at greater risk of serious complications, including young children, people older than 65, pregnant women, people with respiratory issues and people in care facilities.

Health officials are encouraging people to take more precautions, like washing hands, cleaning common surfaces and minimizing spread through sneezing and coughing, as the state deals with another upswing in flu cases.