For the first time in 10 years, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has reported flu-related deaths in children. The agency said two children have died from influenza complications and are among the five influenza-related deaths recorded in the state this flu season.

News sources said the children were under the age of 10, but no additional information was being released at this time. As of January 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said there have been 17 pediatric flu deaths this season.

Some indication of declining flu

In other flu news, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah have all noted their highest flu activity of the season so far. In Oregon, the influenza percent positivity rate is 14.8%, up from 14.4% in the previous week.

Nationwide, last week was the first sign in a decline in flu activity, with 7.2% of outpatient visits for respiratory illness last week, compared with 8.2% of outpatient visits in the prior week. The number of jurisdictions reporting very high respiratory illness activity also dropped from 48 to 44, the CDC said in its weekly FluView report.

Flu activity is likely to remain elevated for several more weeks.