and in our part of the united states, the number of cases continues to rise. >> reporter: in new york city, two children confirmed dead from flu-related illness, as visits to area emergency rooms for the flu are the highest in four years. hospitalizations soaring nationwide. more than 14,000 so far this flu season, which could last until may. heather holland, a second grade teacher in texas, sick less than a week, admitted and then released from a hospital, died after she was rushed back by paramedics two days later. >> everybody talked very highly of her, so, it's really tough. >> reporter: aaron masterson, 12 years old, taken off life support sunday after his battle with the deadly virus. >> if you notice that your child is getting better and then suddenly gets worse, they might have gotten a pneumonia on top of the flu virus. >> reporter: as for those still debating whether to get a flu shot -- >> you reduce your chance of getting the flu by about a third, so, that's, you know, not zero.