High school senior Ismael Perez is recovering after being diagnosed with influenza.

  • Reported flu outbreaks have been from daycares or schools
  • 5 pediatric flu deaths in Florida this year
  • Doctors recommend washing hands, getting flu shot

He has been out of school for a whole week.

“My temperature had gone through the roof and my body was in a lot of pain,” Ismael Perez said.

Wiki Perez, Ismael’s father, said he was concerned over the matter.

“We definitely got worried because we had heard about some kids that had died because of the flu,” he said.

More than 50 percent of the reported outbreaks were in a daycare or school setting, according to the Osceola County Health Department. The department said all five pediatric flu deaths reported in Florida this year were unvaccinated children.

“Most of the time kids are in classrooms and large groups together a lot of the time so personal hygiene is not properly practiced,” said Bret Smith, assistant director for the Osceola County Health Department.

Smith said that besides covering your mouth when you cough and washing your hands, the best preventative measure is to get a flu shot.

Wiki Perez said he wishes he would have taken his son to get his flu shot sooner to prevent him from getting sick.

“I would suggest everybody to get it," he sad. Because it’s like a Russian roulette you’re playing with your health.”

The Osceola County Health Department has 125 “free” flu shots left. They’re administered on a first come first serve basis.