Arkansas reports first flu death of season | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Arkansas has recorded its first flu-related death of the season, the state Department of Health reported Wednesday.

In its report for the week ending Saturday, the department said it involved a person between the ages of 45 and 64.

Flu season typically lasts from October to May. During last season, the health department reported the state’s first flu death in mid-November.

The report released Wednesday suggested “minimal” flu-like illness activity in Arkansas over the past week.

Throughout the last flu season, the state reported a total of 135 flu deaths, including one death in children. Of those who died, 66% were not vaccinated, the ministry reported.

To date, no flu outbreaks have been reported from nursing homes or other community settings. According to the report, 41 outbreaks were investigated in Arkansas during last year’s flu season.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases typically peak between December and February.

In Arkansas, 89 flu cases were reported from Sept. 29 through Saturday, up from 32 the week before, the department reported. At around the same time last year, 121 cases had been reported.

Because many people who become infected with the flu go untested, reported cases represent only a portion of the state’s total number of cases.

Flu antigen testing shows that of the reported cases, 36 were influenza A, 48 were influenza B, and 5 were both.

The Health Ministry also said 22 Covid-related deaths were reported last week, bringing the total to 412 since January 1.

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