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.

The U.S. broke a 15-year record for pediatric flu deaths this season, according to federal data released Friday. There were 216 children who died this season, according to a preliminary