February 22, 2020 | 12:41pm
While the world worries about the coronavirus, the flu is killing scores of kids in the US.
The death toll so far this winter stands at 105 children — at least six in New York, according to the Centers for Disease Control, and influenza is still raging throughout the country.
The CDC’s weekly report added 13 deaths through Feb. 15. The age breakdown of the 105 deaths:
9 aged 5 months old or younger
19 aged 6 months to 23 months
21 aged 2 years to 4 years
31 aged 5 to 11
25 aged 12 and 17
This past week, South Dakota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina and Minnesota had additional deaths of children, the Associated Press reported.
Despite the deaths, the CDC said, this year’s vaccine has been more than 50% effective in preventing flu severe enough to send a child to the doctor — a rate considered good by health experts.
This flu season has featured two waves, each dominated by a different virus. Both bugs are considered dangerous to children.
The government estimates between 16,000 and 41,000 people died from the flu between Oct. 1. and Feb. 15, and between 29 million and 41 million have been sick.
The ranges are so wide because fatal cases often take time to get reported to the CDC, and illnesses are reported only when someone goes to the doctor.
The virus remains widespread in 43 states, including New York. Activity is moderate in Arizona, Delaware, Florida and Nevada and Washington DC, Alaska and Idaho are seeing a minimal number of cases.
