This year, an all-time high of 484 people in North Carolina have succumbed to the flu, and that figure may increase over the next few weeks.
This figure represents the highest count since the state started recording fatalities during the 2008-2009 season.
Sign up for our NewslettersNorth Carolina’s flu history Has experienced numerous changes, encompassing total cases and deaths as well as the peak times of the virus itself.
By the conclusion of the 2008-2009 influenza season, twelve individuals had succumbed to the flu across the state. The number of deaths this season has surged by 3,933%.
Before the 2024-2025 season, the most fatalities during a single flu season were reported in 2017-2018, with 391 deaths occurring across the state that year.
The greatest number of pediatric fatalities — which refers to deaths among individuals under 18 years old — occurred during the previous influenza season, totaling 16 cases.
An assessment of Immunization Registry documentation showed that 75% of those children were not vaccinated as per the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Weber stated that the significant number of cases this year is mainly due to reduced adherence to social distancing measures and lower vaccination rates.
A disease specialist mentioned that a frequent cause for individuals avoiding vaccination stems from misconceptions.
To learn more about this story, check out our news partner, WRAL .
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READ THE FULL STORY: This season, 484 people from North Carolina have passed away due to the flu.
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