Flu-related deaths in NC on track to surpass last season’s total with 9 more reported
Nine more flu-related deaths have been reported in North Carolina, bringing the state total to 54, health officials reported Thursday.
The nine deaths were reported during the week of Jan. 19-25, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
None of the deaths were among children.
North Carolina is on pace to surpass the number of flu-related deaths last season. At this time last year, 31 flu-related deaths had been reported in the state. There were a total of 203 flu-related deaths last season.
Last week there were 645 positive cases of the virus reported in the state. There have been 4,599 total positive cases in the state this season.
Flu activity was “widespread” in the state last week, as it has been for several weeks, the health department said.
Research Triangle High School, a charter school in Durham, announced it is closed Thursday and Friday due to an “illness” affecting the school. It’s unclear if that illness is the flu.
Of the total deaths reported in the state this flu season, which began Sept. 29, one was a child, 31 were ages 65 and older, 12 were ages 50 to 64 and 10 were ages 25 to 49, the department says.
