Updated: January 6, 2018

THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED THURSDAY THAT THREE CHILDREN HAVE DIED FROM THE FLU IN TENNESSEE SO FAR THIS FLU SEASON.  ACCORDING TO MEDIA SOURCES, TWO WERE FROM EAST TENNESSEE AND ONE FROM MIDDLE.  THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ADVISED THAT ON AVERAGE TWO TO THREE CHILDREN DIE EACH FLU SEASON IN TENNESSEE WITH THE HIGHEST DEATH TOLL BEING 15 DURING AN EPIDEMIC IN 2009.  THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL RANKS TENNESSEE AS ONE OF 36 STATES SEEING SOME OF THE HIGHEST FLU ACTIVITY IN THE COUNTRY.  SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND MIDDLE TENNESSEE CLOSED FOR THE WEEK DUE TO WIDESPREAD ILLNESS.  DESPITE REPORTS THAT THE FLU VACCINE IS ONLY 10 PERCENT EFFECTIVE, OFFICIALS SAY PEOPLE SHOULD THE FLU SHOT.  THE FLU VACCINE IS AVAILABLE AT NO COST AT MANY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE STATE.