April 25, 2008 Connection shown between MRSA and flu Play video

(Stephen Iandoli, NECN: Boston, Mass.) - Health officials are tracking a disturbing increase in deaths among children who had both the flu and a drug-resistance form of staph infection known as MRSA. Two of the deaths were in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts makes up only 2% of the country's population, yet it accounted for 5% of this season's child deaths associated with the flu.

The drug-resistant MRSA was found in 2 of the 4 Massachusetts children who died from flu complications this season, in Newton and Worcester County.

About 85% of MRSA infections are hospital associated.

NECN's Stephen Iandoli has more.