ARKANSAS, USA — The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) has reported 3,467 cases of the flu since the beginning of the new flu season that began on Sept. 27, 2021.
The spread of the flu in Arkansas is "minimal," according to the ADH.
The number of cases does not represent the total number of flu cases in Arkansas.
More than 1% of patients visiting emergency rooms this week were for influenza-related illnesses.
Arkansas has reported its eighth flu-related death this season, doubling the total from last week. Further details surrounding that death have not been released.
No nursing homes have reported flu outbreaks this season, according to the ADH.
The average school absenteeism rate last week was 8.8% among public schools.
Arkansas reported 24 flu-related deaths last season.
According to the ADH, 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.
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