Health & Fitness
Flu Death Toll Now At 140 In North Carolina
The flu is being blamed another 34 deaths in North Carolina this week as state public health officials urge residents to get a flu shot.
CHARLOTTE, NC -- Flu deaths in North Carolina rose by 34 last week, the highest number yet this season. The deaths bring the state's overall death toll as of Feb. 3 to 140 since flu season began in October, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
One of the deaths was a pediatric death between the ages of 5 and 17, however state health officials have not identified the person or their location, WBTV reported.
“We‘re in the middle of a nationwide flu epidemic and I’m asking North Carolinians to do their part to stay healthy and stop the flu from spreading,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday. “There are a few simple actions we can all take to fight the flu: get your flu shot if you haven’t already, wash your hands and cover sneezes and coughs, and stay home from work or school if you get the flu.”
Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to state epidemiologists, the deaths in North Carolina through Feb. 3 were in the following age groups:
- 65 or older: 97
- ages 50-64: 33
- ages 25-49: 6
- ages 5-17: 3
- younger than five: 1
According to the CDC, the flu is widespread in 48 states while two states — Oregon and Hawaii — do not have widespread flu activity.
Find out what's happening in Charlottefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The best protection against the flu is vaccination, and health officials have been stressing that it's not too late to get a flu shot. A CDC spokesperson told Patch that as of Jan. 2, 152.1 million doses of the flu vaccine have been distributed. Private manufacturers who produce the vaccine originally predicted that as many as 166 million doses of injectable flu vaccine would be made available for the current flu season.
Vaccine shortages have been reported in some areas as the flu season drags on. The best way to find pharmacies providing the vaccine is to check at Vaccine Finder. The website reminds people to call and check with a vaccine provider location to ensure that the vaccine is available.
A representative for Vaccine Finder said the website does not offer a tool that shows whether the vaccine is available at a particular pharmacy; thus the warning notification on the website.
Patch Editor Shannon Antinori, The Associated Press contributed to this report.
SEE ALSO: Flu Vaccine Supplies Running Low In NC: How To Find One
Photo via Pixabay
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