HOUSTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday reported that 19 more children died of the deadly A/H1N1 flu in the current week, bringing the pediatric death toll of the flu confirmed by laboratory to 114 since the new virus breakout in late April.

    "Twenty-two flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week, 19 of these deaths were confirmed 2009 H1N1," the CDC said Friday on its website, adding altogether it has received reports of 114 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths since April 26, 2009.

    The latest statistics released by the CDC show that the death rate for U.S. children under 18 years old has rose 20 percent in the past week, from 95 reported on Oct. 23 by the federal health agency.

    The H1N1 flu targets young adults and children in greater numbers than other population groups, CDC says.

    Health experts say that one of the most unusual things is the higher number of kids who are ill: usually, an average of 66 children die in a flu season; this year, the total pediatric deaths from influenza, including 13 not confirmed as H1N1, rose to127 since April 26, with six months to go.

    "This is very unsettling news for parents, particularly when coupled with the shortage of the vaccine," said Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University in New York and a professor of clinical public health and pediatrics at the university's Mailman School of Public Health.

    At least 75 percent of the world population are living in areas with the H1N1 virus and millions have been infected. The new virus has overwhelmed other viruses, and it is the dominant flu in the United States and in the world.