State flu deaths climb but season may have peaked

The influenza death toll reached 200 last week in North Carolina with nearly three months remaining in the flu season, according to state public health reports.
There were 27 deaths from flu — none in Pitt County — reported in the state last week, according to data published by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ public health division.
Despite a slight decrease in reports of flu-like illnesses during week seven (Feb.11-17), activity has been widespread in North Carolina since late December, Dr. Zack Moore, state epidemiologist, said in this week’s memo to clinicians.
“It looks like we’ve reached the peak of the season,” said Dr. John Morrow, Pitt County Health Department director.
By comparison, the 2016-17 flu season peaked much later (March 11), but the total number of deaths for the season was 218.
Of this season’s 200 total deaths since Oct. 1, more than 140 have occurred among people 65 or older, the data showed. There were 43 deaths among people age 50-64 and less than 10 deaths in all other age groups. Thus far this season, the weekly death toll peaked at 42 during the week of Jan. 28-Dec. 3, then dropped to 21 last week before spiking a bit this week at 27.
So far, the predominant virus circulating in North Carolina and nationally has been influenza Type A (H3N2) virus. H3N2-predominant seasons have been 

Source:  reflector