Catawba County reports 16 flu deaths this season

Matthew Memrick
·1 min read
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HICKORY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Catawba County health officials say they’ve recorded 16 flu deaths this season.

Officials say they usually see fewer than a handful annually during the fall and winter months. This year’s crop of flu, they’re asking residents to protect themselves.

“Any death from the flu is heartbreaking, but the numbers we are seeing so far this flu season are alarming,” said Catawba County Public Health Director Jennifer McCracken. “These 16 deaths represent more than triple our normal number. We have not seen this many seasonal flu fatalities in well over a decade, and each one weighs heavily on our minds.”

Is it too late to get a flu or COVID shot?

Health officials say the age group most affected by this influenza is adults over 65.

Other groups at risk include:

  • People who have underlying medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, or lung disease.

  • People who have weakened immune systems.

  • Very young children.

  • Women who are pregnant.

Flu activity in North Carolina has been high since early December, and as of last week, the state was still experiencing high flu activity.

Wednesday’s N.C. Department of Health and Human Services dashboard showed decreased emergency room visits from the previous week. Hospital admissions and wastewater tracking also showed decreases from the previous week.

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