More flu fatalities occur in week 51 as a result of “high” flu activity

Little Rock, Arkansas – A new rise in influenza-related fatalities is reported in the flu report for the 51st week of the year.

101 people have now died from the flu this year, and 77 percent of them were not immunized.

This is an increase of 15 deaths from the previous report.

Key points in the report include:

• For Week 51, Arkansas reported “High” or 10 out of 13 for Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) activity level indicator determined by data reported to ILINet.
• Since October 2, 2022, over 17,800 positive influenza tests have been reported to the ADH by health-care providers. Please note that reported cases reflect only a portion of the actual number of flu cases in the state.
• Among flu antigen tests this season that can distinguish between influenza A and B virus types in Arkansas, 92 percent were influenza A, and 8 percent were influenza B.
• Nearly 5 percent of patients visiting emergency rooms this week were there for ILI (Syndromic Surveillance). Nearly 5 percent of outpatient visits were for ILI (ILINet sentinel providers).
• No school absenteeism rate last week among public schools due to the holidays.
• Arkansas reported 101 influenza-related deaths this flu season, including 1 pediatric death. Of these, 77% were not vaccinated.
• CDC estimates so far this season, there have been at least 18 million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations, and 12,000 deaths from flu nationwide.
• Twenty (20) nursing homes and other institutions have reported influenza outbreaks this season.
• Nationally, the proportion of deaths reported to the National Center for Health Statistics attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) is above the epidemic threshold this week.