RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina health officials say 13 people died from the flu in the state last week, raising the death toll for the season to 68.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also reported Thursday that three additional deaths in previous weeks have been attributed to the flu.
So far, 48 of the victims were ages 65 or older. Another 13 were in the 50-to-64 age group and seven were in the 25-to-49 age group.
Officials say the latest report may not reflect the total number of flu deaths in the state because some cases go unreported or undiagnosed.
For the same time period in the previous flu season, officials reported 212 deaths.
“The number of flu-associated deaths reported in North Carolina since 2009 has varied from nine during the 2011–2012 season to 391 during the 2017–2018 season,” said North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in a news releases on February 7. “This serves as a reminder that flu can be a serious illness, especially for adults over age 65, children under five, pregnant women and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.”
Flu season peaks in February and March and officially ends May 18.
This article was written with the help of The Associated Press.
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