NC sees 12 new flu deaths as respiratory viruses reach a plateau amid slowdown

Chloe Rafferty
·2 min read

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — In the past week, the NC Department of Health and Human Services said the state saw a plateau among hospital and emergency department admissions for patients with the flu, RSV and COVID.

It comes after a sharp decrease for three straight weeks prior.

FLU DEATHS IN NC

From Jan. 21-27, 12 additional flu-related deaths were reported, bringing the state’s total to 206 since mid-October.

Twelve new flu-related deaths were also reported one week prior, halting the downward trend from the previous several weeks.

All 12 of the deaths this past week were reported in adults. However, seven pediatric deaths have also been reported from November through early January.

In a breakdown of flu deaths by age, 128 flu deaths have been reported in patients age 65 and older. That represents just above 62% of all NC flu deaths so far this season.

Of the remaining 78 deaths:

  • 53 have been in adults age 50-64

  • 18 have been in adults age 25-49

  • Four have been in the age group of 5-17

  • Three have been in the range of 0-4

No deaths have been reported in the age group of 18-24.

Other health news: CDC report: Chlamydia, gonorrhea rates down in NC, syphilis rate up

RESPIRATORY VIRUS CASES

Respiratory virus numbers are also plateauing after trending downward for three straight weeks on the NCDHHS respiratory virus dashboard.

In the past week, 12.1% of emergency department visitors had symptoms of respiratory viruses. This compares to a close 12.5% one week prior.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS FOR RESPIRATORY VIRUSES

Hospital admissions were also slightly down for COVID-19 — totaling 689 compared to 717 the week before. Flu admission rates are even closer to the week before — 307 admissions were reported compared to 308 the week prior.

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

An average of 78.1 million COVID-19 particles per person were found in wastewater samples across the state in the past week. That represents an increase from the week before, which found 64.6 million.

COVID-19 WASTEWATER MONITORING

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