Health chief: Flu epidemic could be declared in January
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
Virus suspected as authorities investigate the deaths of 2 more children
By THE STAR STAFF
Puerto Rico Health Secretary Víctor Ramos Otero confirmed two additional deaths on Tuesday associated with influenza, marking the 85th fatality of the 2025-2026 season.
This season, which began in June and runs through July next year, has already exceeded past years in both cases and fatalities.
Over the weekend, Ramos reported the death of two children, emphasizing that those pediatric deaths underscore the serious community impact of influenza on the island. Authorities are currently investigating two more suspected pediatric cases.
As of Dec. 20, the Health Department had documented 28,763 confirmed influenza cases -- an increase of 3,700 since Dec. 13. Nearly half of all reported cases this season involve children and adolescents aged 0-19, with roughly 6.2% requiring hospitalization.
To slow transmission, Ramos strongly recommended wearing masks in crowded settings such as clinics, hospitals and public events. He also sounded a warning: if the current trend continues and case levels remain above the epidemic threshold for six straight weeks, authorities could formally declare an influenza epidemic in January.
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