The Department for Public Health, within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, is reporting the state’s first pediatric deaths for the 2017-18 flu season. According to the Acting Department for Public Health Commissioner Dr. Jeffrey D. Howard, of the 36 flu-related deaths reported so far this season, two of those were children. The average age of death of the other 34 people who died as a result of flu is 75 years of age. The hometown, county and gender of the children has not been released to protect the privacy of their families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these tips to stop the spread of germs: try to avoid contact with sick people; limit contact with others while sick; if sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except for medical care or other necessities; wash your hands; cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; and clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated.