More U.S. children have died this flu season than at any time since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago. Those numbers were reflected in a number of states including Minnesota where the spike began just after the Christmas holilday.

The 216 pediatric deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eclipse the 207 reported last year. It’s the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 global flu pandemic. It’s a startlingly high number, given that the flu season is still going on. The final pediatric death tally for the 2023-2024 flu season wasn’t counted until autumn.

U.S. authorities have reported 216 pediatric deaths so far this flu season. And what is worrying is that the season is not over yet.