By Alison Kuznitz, State House News Service
Massachusetts has recorded six pediatric deaths this flu season, a top public health official said on Feb. 11. There have also been 228 adult flu deaths, according to a Department of Public Health dashboard with data available through Jan. 31.
“I think it’s worth repeating that vaccines protect against serious and potentially fatal diseases, including flu and COVID,” Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein told the Public Health Council.
There were 51 total flu deaths during the week of Dec. 28 through Jan. 3, the highest count recorded on the dashboard.
The first two pediatric flu deaths happened during the week of Dec. 21-27. There were three pediatric flu deaths the week of Dec. 28 through Jan. 3, followed by another pediatric death the week of Jan. 11-17.
At least two Boston children have died from the flu, marking the city’s first pediatric flu deaths since 2013.
Officials said there was a “moderate” risk of flu-like illness activity in Massachusetts during the last week of January.
“Massachusetts hospitals are continuing to see an overall decrease in the number of patients seeking care for respiratory illness as compared to the beginning of 2026,” Goldstein said. “However, although unusual at this time of year, ED visits for RSV infection seem to be increasing.”
Massachusetts experienced “very high” influenza-like illness activity at the end of 2025. Goldstein had sounded the alarm about a mutated flu strain, known as Subclade K, that drove widespread cases across Europe.
