US EditionWisconsin Reports First 2 Respiratory Illness-Associated Deaths of Children of 2025-26 Season
Two children died from COVID-19 and influenza amid rising respiratory virus activity; only 28.1% of Wisconsinites had flu vaccination as of Dec. 11, DHS reported.
- On Dec. 18, 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed two Wisconsin children died from respiratory illnesses, one from COVID-19 and the other from influenza, the first pediatric deaths of the 2025-26 respiratory illness season.
- Health officials said respiratory illness activity is rising, citing emergency department data, laboratory testing and wastewater data, while COVID-19 and flu activity remain low but increasing and hospitalizations tick up.
- Public-Health records indicate vaccine rates in Wisconsin have declined since at least the 2021-22 flu season, with 28.1% receiving influenza vaccine and 10.6% receiving COVID-19 vaccine as of Dec. 11.
- Health officials recommended, `This is a reminder about how serious these viruses can be, but it's not too late to protect yourself and your family by getting vaccinated`, urging vaccination through providers, pharmacies, and clinics.
- Looking to the season ahead, public-health experts warned holiday travel, a new flu strain and low vaccination rates could accelerate spread, while DHS highlighted maternal RSV vaccine and RSV eligibility for adults 75 and older and adults 50-74 with increased RSV risk.
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Wisconsin ExaminerAs vaccination rates fall, Wisconsin reports two deaths of children from flu, COVID-19
Vaccination rates for influenza and COVID-19 are low in Wisconsin, and on Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that two children have died within the last month: one from the flu in northeast Wisconsin and one from COVID-19…
DHS recommends vaccinations after first pediatric respiratory illness-associated deaths
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services confirmed the first pediatric respiratory illness-associated deaths in two children from Wisconsin for the 2025-26 season, according to a Dec. 18 press release. One death is a result of COVID-19 and the other is…
Wisconsin sees season’s first pediatric respiratory illness deaths
Two children in Wisconsin have died of respiratory illnesses, the state Department of Health Services announced. They are the first pediatric deaths from respiratory illness during the 2025-2026 season. One child died of COVID-19 and the other from influenza. The state did not release information on the children’s ages or locations. Respiratory illness is increasing in Wisconsin, according to DHS, based on data collected from emergency rooms, la…
2 children in Wisconsin die of respiratory illness in season's first pediatric deaths
Two children in Wisconsin have died of respiratory illnesses, the state Department of Health Services announced. The post 2 children in Wisconsin die of respiratory illness in season’s first pediatric deaths appeared first on WPR.
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