Health officials in New Jersey are looking at whether a 5-year-old girl from North Bergen died from the flu.
"It's a sad day for North Bergen today," one person told WOR's Alice Stockton-Rossini.
The child was a kindergartener at Lincoln School. The girl hasn’t been identified.
“Today is a sad day for the North Bergen family as one of our students has unfortunately passed away,” school officials said in a statement. “Additionally, we would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family of our student, our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”
Officials are encouraging parents not to send their children to school if they’re suffering from flu-like symptoms and to get them medical if they are. The school is also taking precautions.
“Due to the recent flu virus outbreak nationwide we have been disinfecting our desks and common surfaces in our school district,” officials said.
"I'm speechless. I can't say anything," one person said.
This comes after a 5-year-old girl from Brooklyn died of the flu. The girl’s mother found her unresponsive at the Bay View Houses in Canarsie on Saturday night. Emergency responders rushed her to Brookdale Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
She is the fourth child from New York City to die of the virus.
New York City officials have urged everyone to get a flu shot. Health officials said children are especially vulnerable.
This flu season is considered one of the worst in recent history.
Photo Credit: Getty Images