Combination of flu, MRSA killing children

BOSTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Health officials in the United States say that a combination of influenza and a resistant bacterial infection has killed at least 22 children.

The Centers for Disease Control has identified 74 children who died of flu in 2006 and 2007, The Boston Globe reported. Of these, 22 were also infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.

At least two children's deaths in Massachusetts have been blamed on the combination.

Infectious disease experts say that infection with the flu virus may cause changes in the respiratory tract that increase the likelihood of a dangerous MRSA infection. Dr. Kenneth McIntosh of Children's Hospital in Boston said that other children may have survived the double infection.

"I've been surprised by this phenomenon of MRSA with flu, which has been really quite shocking this winter," McIntosh said. "I think everybody's concerned about it. What to do about it is not clear."

The CDC plans to start a monitoring network before the next flu season begins to track the combination and work out ways of treating it.