Colorado health officials confirmed the state’s first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2025–26 season on Dec. 16, 2025. The child was elementary school–aged and lived in the Denver metro area, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE); the death occurred the previous week. The announcement comes as statewide flu activity has risen sharply, with CDPHE reporting a 43% increase in flu-related hospitalizations during the last week of November. Local clinicians and public-health officials are urging vaccination, good hygiene and keeping symptomatic children home to blunt further spread.
- CDPHE confirmed the first pediatric influenza-associated death of the 2025–26 season; the child was elementary school–aged and lived in the Denver metro area.
- State surveillance recorded a 43% rise in flu-related hospitalizations in the last week of November compared with the prior week.
- Denver Health pediatrician Dr. Gregg Kennedy noted that nationally several hundred pediatric flu deaths occur each year and that over 90% of those children historically were unvaccinated.
- A Lakewood preschool reported roughly 70% student absenteeism and closed for a day after a sudden spike in high fevers among attendees.
- CDPHE plans to notify more than 225,000 families of children ages 6 months to 5 years by text and email if records indicate they may be overdue for a flu vaccine.
- Health officials recommend immediate vaccination, staying home when ill, and reinforced hygiene; flu season typically peaks in January–February but this early surge could lengthen or intensify activity.
Background
Seasonal influenza circulates every year in the United States, with activity usually rising in autumn and peaking between January and February. Vaccination is the primary prevention tool; pediatric uptake varies year to year and is closely tracked by state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Historically, several hundred pediatric deaths nationwide have been attributed to influenza annually, and clinicians point to low vaccination rates among those fatalities as a notable pattern. Colorado maintains routine surveillance through outpatient reporting, laboratory tests and hospitalization data to detect early increases in activity and inform outreach to at-risk populations.
Schools and childcare settings are frequent sites of early transmission because young children have higher contact rates and limited prior immunity. Outbreaks in preschools can quickly affect staff and families, prompting temporary closures and intensified cleaning protocols that were widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public-health departments balance targeted notifications and broader public messaging to boost timely vaccinations, especially for children aged 6 months to 5 years, a group routinely prioritized for early outreach. The state’s messaging aims to reduce severe outcomes and preserve hospital capacity as flu-related admissions rise.
Main Event
CDPHE disclosed the pediatric death in a public notice on Dec. 16, 2025, identifying the patient as an elementary school–aged child in the Denver metro area; officials did not provide additional personal or clinical details due to privacy protections. The department emphasized that this death is influenza-associated and part of a broader uptick in seasonal activity. CDPHE’s weekly surveillance showed a 43% jump in flu-related hospitalizations in the last week of November, a signal state epidemiologists flagged as unusually early and steep.
Clinicians in the Denver area report seeing far more pediatric cases than is typical for mid-December. Dr. Gregg Kennedy, a pediatrician at Denver Health, told reporters most children recover at home but acknowledged an increased number now require hospital care. In response to the rise, CDPHE will send texts and emails this week to more than 225,000 families with children aged 6 months to 5 years whose immunization records indicate they may be overdue for a seasonal flu shot.
At Colorado Kids Academy in Lakewood, owner Mara Hackett said the preschool closed for one day after roughly 70% of students were absent with high fevers appearing hours after arrival in some cases. Staff reinstated cleaning and infection-control practices from the COVID period, and the center advised families to keep symptomatic children at home. Public-health officials reiterated standard guidance: get vaccinated now, isolate symptomatic children, and follow hand-washing and respiratory-hygiene measures.
Analysis & Implications
The early and steep increase in hospitalizations suggests this season may bring atypical timing and potentially more sustained transmission. If influenza activity remains elevated into January and February, hospitals could face overlapping demand from other winter respiratory viruses, increasing pressure on pediatric and adult inpatient capacity. Vaccination remains the most effective defense to reduce severe outcomes; although effectiveness varies by season and circulating strains, vaccinated people—especially children—tend to experience milder courses and lower hospitalization risks.
Public outreach to families of young children is a key mitigation strategy because early vaccination of infants and toddlers can prevent severe illness and reduce community transmission. However, outreach efficacy depends on both access and acceptance: convenience (clinic hours, mobile clinics, pharmacies) and clear communication about vaccine benefits and safety will influence uptake. Schools and childcare centers, where transmission concentrates, are critical partners for messaging and for maintaining policies that keep symptomatic children home without penalizing families financially.
On a population level, higher early incidence raises the probability of more cumulative cases and potentially more severe outcomes among unvaccinated or medically vulnerable children. Policymakers will need to weigh options such as expanded vaccination clinics, temporary surge staffing, and targeted protection for high-risk groups. Coordination among state public-health agencies, health systems and community organizations will determine how effectively the early surge can be blunted before peak months.
| Metric | Reported Value |
|---|---|
| Increase in flu-related hospitalizations (last week of Nov.) | 43% |
| Families to be notified about overdue vaccines | More than 225,000 (children aged 6 months–5 years) |
| Preschool absenteeism reported at Colorado Kids Academy | Approximately 70% of students |
| Typical seasonal peak | January–February |
The table summarizes the specific figures cited by state and local sources in the CDPHE notice and reporting from Denver-area clinicians. These measures provide a snapshot of early-season activity and help contextualize the outreach and infection-control steps already underway.
Reactions & Quotes
“At the moment, there’s about 10 times as much flu as anything else. Most children recover at home, but some require hospitalization.”
Dr. Gregg Kennedy, Denver Health (pediatrician)
Dr. Kennedy framed vaccination as the single most effective step families can take to prevent severe outcomes, noting that historically the majority of pediatric flu deaths involved children who had not received the seasonal vaccine.
“Children were coming in without symptoms and hours later developing really high fevers; about 70% of students were out sick.”
Mara Hackett, owner, Colorado Kids Academy (preschool operator)
Hackett described the operational disruption at her Lakewood preschool and the decision to reintroduce heightened cleaning protocols to protect families and staff amid the surge.
“We are notifying families whose records indicate an overdue vaccine and advising providers to emphasize prompt vaccination and staying home while ill.”
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (official statement)
The state emphasized targeted messaging to families of young children and reiterated standard public-health guidance for influenza prevention.
Unconfirmed
- The vaccination status of the child who died has not been publicly disclosed by CDPHE.
- It is not yet confirmed whether this early surge will definitively produce a longer or more severe season; ongoing surveillance will determine the trend.
- Detailed clinical information about the child’s underlying health conditions or co-infections has not been released.
Bottom Line
Colorado’s confirmation of a pediatric influenza-associated death alongside an early rise in hospitalizations is a clear signal for immediate public-health action: vaccinate eligible children now, keep symptomatic kids at home, and reinforce hygiene measures in group settings. The state’s outreach to more than 225,000 families of young children aims to close immunization gaps quickly, but success will depend on access to vaccines and clear communication from health providers and schools.
Clinicians caution that while most pediatric influenza cases remain mild, severe outcomes can and do occur, particularly among unvaccinated children and those with underlying conditions. With typical seasonal peaks in January and February, this early surge raises the risk of sustained pressure on healthcare services; coordination across public health, healthcare providers and educational settings will be essential to limit illness and protect vulnerable children.