A new government report about rising staph related flu deaths amongst children is urging parents to ensure their children receive flu shots, before the start of the flu season.

A study in the October edition of Paediatrics based on an analysis of flu deaths from 2004-05 through 2006-07 reveals a total of 47, 46 and 73 children died of flu during these years, respectively, causing public health officials to stress the importance of routine flu shots for children aged 6-months through 18-years.

 Dr. Gregory Poland, a Mayo Clinic infectious disease specialist says there is no need to panic, yet, parents should take heed of the fact that even healthy children can develop complications and die from them.

The official will ensure the flu vaccine is widely available this month, and though only a few children may end up dying because of the flu virus, each year about 20,000 U.S. children contract flu and are hospitalised because of it.  

Flu makes people more susceptible to bacterial infections, such as, staph germs, which live in the nose or skin without causing illness; however, these bugs turn fatal if they enter the bloodstream, perhaps through wounds.

Children should be taken to the doctor as soon as they develop signs of flu symptoms, such as, extreme fatigue, no thirst, or complaints about feeling very ill.