BILLINGS — An elementary school student from Billings has died of complications due to influenza, the first child death due to the flu in Montana since the 2015-16 flu season.
Billings Catholic Schools President Shaun Harrington says Chloe Lai was a student at St. Francis School. She fell ill and was hospitalized Sunday and died Tuesday afternoon. Harrington says her parents confirmed her death was flu-related.
The Department of Public Health and Human Services says Montana has had 33 flu-related deaths this winter.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 97 flu-related deaths nationally among children this season through Feb. 17.