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Flu-related deaths in Arkansas up 7 from last week, 108 total this season

The Arkansas Department of Health is reporting that out of the 108 who died from flu-related illnesses, 77% of them were not vaccinated against the virus.

ARKANSAS, USA — In the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) weekly flu report released Wednesday, Jan. 4, seven new deaths were confirmed related to the flu in the past week.

The total has now risen to 108 people in Arkansas who have died from flu-related symptoms since the beginning of October. This number includes one child, but their exact ages have not been made public. 

According to the ADH, the following age groups account for the number of flu-related deaths so far this season:

  • 5-17 years old: 1
  • 25-44 years old: 8
  • 45-64 years old: 33
  • 65+ years old: 66

The ADH is reporting that 77% of those who have died were not vaccinated against the flu. 

Since Oct. 2, over 18,800 positive flu tests were reported to the ADH by healthcare providers. However, the health department notes that these numbers reflect a portion of the actual number of flu cases.

"It is presumed that there are many more people actually affected than the report shows," the ADH said in the report.

Nearly 92% of positive flu tests were influenza A, and 8% were influenza B.

Other key findings:

  • During the 2021-22 flu season, Arkansas reported 30 flu-related deaths
  • 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 this week is above the epidemic threshold

According to the CDC, those ages 6 months and older are eligible for the influenza vaccine on a yearly basis.

During flu season, ADH produces a weekly report to provide information on flu activity in the state. The report also helps compare how Arkansas measures up nationally. The health department also noted that it reports only a fraction of flu cases since it currently only requires flu-related hospitalizations, deaths, and outbreaks to be reported to the department.

To read the full ADH flu report for this week, click here.

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