ENC pharmacies and residents take preventative measures as NC reports first flu death

FARMVILLE, NC (WITN) – The first person to die from the flu in North Carolina during the 2024-25 flu season is an adult from Charlotte, NC

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the person died from complications of the flu in the second week of October.

Residents in eastern North Carolina are taking precautions.

“You can spread the flu and then die from the flu. There are many symptoms like I heard about a flu death in Charlotte today,” said Holly Stoll, an ENC resident. “I try to protect myself by staying hygienic and then being honest about the status of my illness.”

Pharmacies and health centers in the East are encouraging people to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from the spread of any respiratory viruses.

Pharmville Drug is an Eastside pharmacy that offers early testing and vaccines for a variety of illnesses, including flu, COVID-19 and shingles.

Sarah Miller, a pharmacist at Pharmville Drug, said October is the month when flu season is rampant, causing severe illness in people with underlying health conditions.

“I would imagine that flu-related deaths are due to people who may have predisposed respiratory problems or have had it in the past,” Miller said. “That can definitely make them a little more susceptible to the flu, so we hope they get a little more protection than a healthy person.”

Miller said it’s important for people in the community to take steps in advance, such as practicing good hygiene, seeking medical care for flu-like symptoms and getting vaccinated against the flu.

“We carry the regular dose and the high dose. The high dose is usually recommended for patients aged 65 and over. However, there will be a slightly stronger dose, so hopefully patients aged 65 and over or with compromised immune systems will receive this dose and have a little more protection.”

Because influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory illnesses are expected to increase in the coming weeks, the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against seasonal flu and COVID-19.

For more information about respiratory viruses, including access to vaccines, testing and treatment in your community, visit www.vaccines.gov/en/, flu.ncdhhs.gov or covid19.ncdhhs.gov.

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