Dallas County confirmed the second pediatric flu-related death of the season Tuesday.
County health officials said they received the report of the 10-year-old's death earlier in the afternoon.
It is not known if the child had been vaccinated or if there were underlying health conditions. Citing medical confidentiality and personal privacy reasons, further information about the patient will not be released.
"The flu vaccine is recommended for almost everyone except children younger than 6 months of age. According to CDC, the vaccine is the best means of flu prevention," Dallas County Health and Human Services said in a news release Tuesday.
"We're still seeing the flu virus circulating in Dallas county, throughout Texas and of course the nation," said Zachary Thompson, director of Dallas County Health and Human Services.
County health officials state that it's still not too late for a flu shot.
"Flu season will run until June," said Thompson. "So we still got to practice hand washing, our cough etiquette and getting a flu shot. It's still available."
With another two full months left in the season, most of the flu cases that are now getting reported are the so-called "B" strain.
"The flu vaccine covers both the A and B, but again the best precaution is to stay at home if you're sick, keep your children home if they're sick, and above all, practice cough etiquette and wash your hands," Thompson said.
County health officials said said the vaccine is free for adult and children at immunization clinics at the Dallas County Health and Human Services Building at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway in Dallas. They are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Please call 214-819-2162 for vaccine availability.
NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.
