WA boy, 10, dies after flu complications

A 10-year-old boy is believed to be the eleventh flu-related fatality in Western Australia this year.

Nearly 4000 people have contracted the flu in WA this year, The WA Department of Health says. (AAP)

A 10-year-old boy has died in a West Australian hospital from suspected influenza.

A Perth Children's Hospital spokeswoman confirmed the boy's death but would not say whether his critical condition over the past few days was flu-related.

It is understood the boy suffered complications due to the virus.

The case brings the number of deaths in WA from flu-related illness this year to 11, compared to four at the same time last year.

The Department of Health's latest weekly statewide notifiable diseases data shows the number of reported cases in the state this year so far has jumped by 874 in one week to 3887.

That compares to 1216 cases for the same time last year.

The department says the flu season has come eight weeks earlier than usual and urges people to get immunised.