ST. PAUL - The state Health Department says a second child has died from complications of influenza this season.
The Minnesota Department of Health says a 5-year-old girl in the Twin Cities metro area died the night of March 10 after being infected with influenza B. A 12-year-old girl who died in late February was infected with the A strain.
Officials say the 5-year-old had received a flu shot, but not until after she became sick. She had no underlying health conditions before being infected.
Kris Ehresmann, immunizations manager at the Health Department, says it's not too late to get a flu shot.
She says the child's death doesn't necessarily mean children are at a higher risk this year.
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The Health Department says 32 pediatric influenza-related deaths had been reported nationwide as of March 1.
