Influenza has killed an eight year old girl in McLean County. This is only the second child death related to flu in the state this season. Kera Simon is a spokeswoman for the McLean County Health Department:
%22In%20this%20case%20it%20was%20not%20a%20novel%20or%20new%20flu%20virus.%20It%20was%20influenza-B%20that%20contributed%20to%20the%20death.%20But%2C%20there%20were%20other%20medical%20circumstances%20involved.%20And%20the%20death%20has%20been%20classified%20by%20the%20Illinois%20Department%20of%20Public%20Health%20as%20flu%20related.%22
This is also the second flu related death in McLean County since the season began in September. Records from the Centers for Disease Control and the Illinois Department of Public Health indicate the flu peaked about six weeks ago, but reports remain widespread in many states including Illinois. Simon says flu reports in the community are now at the same level as when they began to increase in December. The third grade girl from Bloomington-Normal died more than a week ago.