4th Mass. child dies from flu

By Stephen Smith, Globe staff

A 12-year-old Worcester County girl died Sunday from influenza, the fourth Massachusetts child to succumb this year to the respiratory illness, state public health authorities announced this afternoon.

Officials also disclosed that a 15-year-old boy from Newton died Friday of pneumonia triggered by the flu. Neither of the children was identified because of patient confidentiality laws.

Most years, no more than two children die from the flu in Massachusetts. This flu season, though, has proved especially severe, with significantly more cases of the viral disease reported among adults and children than the previous two winters. Disease specialists estimate that during a typical winter, 36,000 people -- mainly the elderly and patients with chronic illnesses -- die nationally from the flu.

Earlier this month, the deaths of a 6-year-old from Suffolk County and a 14-year-old from Middlesex County were also blamed on the flu.