Flu-related deaths surge to 176 in North Carolina; respiratory cases begin to decline

 

 

The number of flu-related deaths in North Carolina continues to grow, with an additional 30 recorded Wednesday.

The majority of those deaths, 23, occurred previously and were added to the Wednesday report, so seven occurred that week. The seven flu-related deaths reported last week indicate a six-week drop. DHHS weekly totals are subject to adjustment, which includes cases and deaths that happened weeks or months ago but were only recently verified as flu-related. DHHS also reported that new cases of flu, COVID-19, and RSV continue to fall after peaking in early January.

Overall, 176 deaths have been reported for the 2023-24 flu season, which typically peaks in late January.

The majority of the newly confirmed deaths (19) were among individuals aged 65 and up, with 11 among those aged 50 to 64. There were no new deaths among children.

DHHS does not disclose the region of the state where flu-related deaths occur, citing patient privacy laws

So far this season, there have been 109 deaths for those 65 and over, 43 for those 50 to 64, 17 for those 25 to 49, four for kids 5 to 17, and four for those 4 and under.

DHHS, as well as the Triad’s three principal hospitals, continue to report a high number of persons being treated in emergency rooms for respiratory diseases.

“We are approaching the peak of winter respiratory virus season and encourage people to get tested early and seek treatment as soon as they begin to develop symptoms,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo-Tilson, the state’s health director and chief medical officer.

“Don’t wait to seek treatment if you test positive for the flu or COVID-19, as treatments can help prevent severe illness, especially for those who are high risk of serious complications based on their age or medical conditions.”

Flu vaccines are especially critical for children who are at higher risk of acquiring serious sickness or complications, such as those under the age of five, particularly those under the age of two, or those with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or a compromised immune system.

The specialists emphasize that it is not too late to get a flu vaccine or the most recent COVID-19 booster

However, the guidelines are not being followed, whether due to popular belief in herd immunity at the community level or vaccine weariness, according to specialists.

Dashboard updates

DHHS continues to monitor respiratory virus-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions, as well as viral levels in wastewater.

RSV is a common virus that can cause serious illnesses in infants and people over 60. RSV symptoms include a runny nose, cough, and low-grade fever, which can often be addressed with over-the-counter pain medicines.

As of Saturday, respiratory viruses accounted for 11.8% of all emergency department visits across the state.

That compares to 14.3% in the previous report and 23.8% for the week ending Dec. 30, the highest level in more than a year.

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms accounted for 3.9%, a decrease from 4.5% in the prior report.

Meanwhile, the flu rate dropped to 2% last week, down from 2.2% in the prior report. RSV cases fell from 1.1% to 0.7%.

In terms of hospital admissions, the flu reduced to 308 from 504 in the previous report, while COVID-19 admissions fell from 899 to 717. This includes 205 COVID patients in the Triad and Northwest North Carolina region, down from 229.
Last week, the JN.1 subvariant constituted 58% of COVID-19 instances statewide, while the HV.1 subvariant accounted for 10.4%.