A child under the age of 5 has died from complications related to influenza in New Jersey, marking the third pediatric flu death in the state this season, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
State health officials said the child, who was from northern New Jersey, had underlying medical conditions. Additional details were not released.
The death comes as overall flu activity in the state has been declining. Health officials report decreases in influenza cases, emergency room visits, outpatient visits and positive test results in recent weeks.
Despite that downward trend, hospitalizations linked to the virus continue to occur primarily among adults aged 65 and older, according to state data.
Health officials said Influenza B has become the predominant strain circulating in the state, according to the department’s latest respiratory illness surveillance report. Activity from Influenza A has continued to decline, mirroring trends seen across much of the United States.
The first pediatric flu death reported in New Jersey this season occurred in January. That child, also from northern New Jersey, had no known underlying health conditions, state officials said.
During the previous flu season, the state recorded five pediatric influenza deaths, compared with two deaths the year before, according to health department data.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 280 pediatric deaths were reported during the 2024–2025 flu season nationwide. The median age of children who died was 7 years old, and more than half had at least one underlying medical condition. Among children eligible for vaccination with available data, roughly 89 percent were not fully vaccinated.
Health experts say flu vaccines typically reduce the risk of severe illness by 40 to 60 percent during an average season. Early estimates for the 2025–2026 vaccine show effectiveness of about 70 to 75 percent in children and 30 to 40 percent in adults.
