Arkansas flu activity drops to low levels after months of high case numbers
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The latest report from the Department of Health shows Arkansas flu activity for the week is now ranked as Low for the first time this season.
The March 23 weekly report placed flu activity at a 5 on the 13-point scale used by reporting agencies. Last week, the flu activity was at an 8 on the same scale, indicating high activity. Health officials said Arkansas had seen a Very High flu activity ranking through February.
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ADH officials reported seven flu-related and 53 pneumonia-related patient deaths for the week. COVID-19 was the cause of 24 deaths listed in the weekly report.
ADH officials said that since the flu season began on Oct. 1, 2023, the state has had 104 patients who died due to flu, 70% of whom were not vaccinated. Of these deaths, 72 were people over 65.
COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 132 people in the state since Jan. 1, according to the ADH report, with 705 dying due to the disease in 2023.
Nursing homes and other congregate settings have had 35 outbreaks during this flu season, up from last week’s 34 reported outbreaks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 30 million illnesses, 340,000 hospitalizations, and 21,000 deaths from flu have occurred nationally so far this season. This is an increase from the previous week’s 29 million illnesses, 320,000 hospitalizations and 20,000 deaths.
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ADH officials stated in the report that the numbers only reflect a portion of the total illnesses since only reports of flu and COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths and outbreaks are recorded.
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