The first flu-related death of a child is being reported in New York. The state's Health Department, in an effort to protect the family's privacy, would only say it happened downstate. Eight children in the state died of the flu during the 2016-2017 flu season. The report comes as cases of the flu spike around New York State.Earlier this week Monroe County health officials reported the county's first flu death of the season. The death was included in a report for the week ending December 30 and involved a man or woman between the ages of 50 and 64.