Again, no flu deaths reported

Season’s toll for Arkansas remains at seven since September

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas reported no new deaths from flu last week, according to a report from the Department of Health.

As of the week that ended Saturday, seven people had died during the flu season that began in late September. A flu death hasn’t been reported in the state since mid-December.

The latest mortality data continued a trend — seen in Arkansas and nationwide — of a reduced death toll from influenza so far this season.

Experts have attributed the change to mitigation measures, such as masks and physical distancing, used for the coronavirus pandemic.

By contrast with this year’s flu deaths, Arkansas reported 66 new deaths from covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, on Tuesday alone. That set a record for daily deaths from the disease.

The Health Department’s weekly flu report said providers have reported 863 flu cases so far this season. That is likely a fraction of the number of actual cases in the state, according to the report.

Arkansas continued to report “minimal” flu activity, the same as in preceding weeks. No nursing homes have reported flu outbreaks this season.

Three people were hospitalized from flu last week, based on results from rapid-response antigen tests.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows that one child has died from flu in the U.S. thus far this year. The agency’s website called flu activity “unusually low.”

However, that “may increase in the coming months,” a summary of recent data warned.

Federal and state health officials stressed the importance of getting a flu vaccine this year to avoid being hospitalized for flu as the pandemic strains health resources.