Clark County reports the first flu-related child death of the season

A Clark County child died from the flu, being the first pediatric flu-related death in Clark County for the 2015-16 season, the Southern Nevada Health District said Wednesday.

The health district said the child was younger than 5 and that no other information about the death will be released.

Clark County reported 26 deaths, 318 hospitalizations and 583 cases of the flu from Oct. 1, 2014, to May 31, 2015.

"The flu can have devastating effects on the very young, the very old, or those with compromised immune systems," said Dr. Joe Iser, Southern Nevada Health District's chief health officer. "Any child's death is a tragedy, but this is a particular reminder of the need to get an influenza immunization every year."

In a statement, the health district reminded Southern Nevadans that flu season typically peaks in January and February and that there is still time to receive a flu vaccine.

For information on the health district's flu vaccine clinics, call 702-759-0850 or visit the health district's flu clinic Web page.

Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lawrenlinehan