Three people, including a school-age child, have died from complications from the flu in Orange County since the beginning of the year, health officials in Orange County say.

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the family and friends of this child," said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, director of the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. "All of us should get the flu vaccine and continue to be alert and practice good hygiene measures."

One of the adult victims, Mindy Lamb, died Tuesday at Florida Hospital East, her husband said in an email sent Thursday in which he urged everyone in the community to get a flu shot.

Orlando Health said another patient died from flu complications in early January, adding that person also had previous complex medical conditions.

"Overall we are not treating more patients suffering from the flu than in previous years, although it seems we are seeing more serious cases of flu," a spokesperson at Orlando Regional Medical Center said.

The latest confirmed deaths bring the total of flu-related deaths in Central Florida to five since the beginning of 2014. Two women died in Brevard County, including one who had just given birth in December.

U.S. health officials have called the latest case of the flu an "epidemic" nationwide. H1N1 is the same type of strain as the so-called "swine flu" that caused a pandemic in 2009, and is currently affecting pregnant women and people under 40 years old.