US: Arkansas Department of Health weekly report, First flu death of season reported

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Media Report
October 16, 2024 at 12:32 PM

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Health reported its first death due to flu of the season in its Wednesday report.

The ADH report was the second weekly report of the October-April 2024-2025 flu season. The Wednesday report shows overall flu activity in the state is minimal at 1 out of the 13-point scale.
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No flu outbreaks have been reported in any nursing home or congregate setting. Emergency rooms report few patient visits for flu or COVID-19, both under 2% of total visits, while RSV accounts for .08% of emergency room visits.
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The report also stated that 22 patient deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in Arkansas through the week ending Oct.12. Since Jan. 1, the state has reported 412 patients succumbing to coronavirus and a total of 761 patient deaths in 2021.

Patient deaths due to pneumonia are 57 for the week ending Oct. 12.
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The report noted that the ADH receives reports on only a fraction of flu and COVID-19 since only hospitalizations, deaths and outbreaks are reported. RSV has no reporting requirements, officials said.

https://www.aol.com/first-flu-death-season-reported-163235837.html

 

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Arkansas Department of Health
Viral Respiratory Diseases Weekly Report
2024-2025​

Excerpt:
Report Key Points for Week 41:
• Arkansas reported “Minimal” or 1 out of 13 for the Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) activity level indicator
determined by data reported to ILINet.
• Hospital Emergency Department visits reported through Syndromic Surveillance were at 1.59% for
Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI), 1.36% for COVID-Like-Illness (CLI), and 0.08% for Respiratory Syncytial
Virus (RSV).
• Outpatient visits for ILI reported through ILINet from the Sentinel Providers were at 1.56%.
• The average school absenteeism rate last week was 6.51% among public schools.
• Arkansas reported the first influenza-related death this week; in the 2023-24 flu season, 135 influenza
related deaths were reported, including 1 pediatric. Of these, 66% were not vaccinated.
• Nationally, CDC estimates that there have been at least 35 million illnesses, 400,000 hospitalizations, and
21,000 deaths from flu in 2023-24 season.
• Arkansas reported 22 COVID-19-related deaths this week and a total of 761 deaths in 2023 and 412 since
01/01/2024. The weekly deaths reflect week reported not date of death.
• This flu season, no influenza outbreaks have been reported from nursing homes or other congregate setting
institutions. In 2023-24, Arkansas investigated 41 outbreaks.
• Nationally, the proportion of deaths reported to the National Center for Health Statistics that were attributed
to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 (PIC) was above the epidemic threshold this week.​

​​​​​​​...https://healthy.arkansas.gov/progra...nditions/communicable-diseases/influenza-flu/

 

[Commonground]

Arkansas Department of Health
Viral Respiratory Diseases Weekly Report
2024-2025​​

Report Key Points for Week 51:
• Arkansas reported “High” or 10 out of 13 for the Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) activity level indicator
determined by data reported to ILINet.

• Hospital Emergency Department visits reported through Syndromic Surveillance were at 5.60% for
Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI), 3.71% for COVID-Like-Illness (CLI), and 1.67% for Respiratory Syncytial
Virus (RSV).

• Outpatient visits for ILI reported through ILINet from the Sentinel Providers were at 5.42%.

• Arkansas Children’s Hospitals and associated clinic locations in central and northwest Arkansas report RSV
test positivity over 25% and Mycoplasma pneumoniae test positivity at 7%.

• The average school absenteeism rate last week was 9.55% among public schools.

• Arkansas reported 5 influenza-related deaths this season, and a total of 136 deaths in 2023-24 season,
including 1 pediatric. Of these, 66% were not vaccinated.

• Nationally, CDC estimates that there have been at least 1.9 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, and
970 deaths from flu so far this season.

• Arkansas reported no COVID-19-related deaths this week and a total of 761 deaths in 2023 and 484 since
01/01/2024. The weekly deaths reflect week reported or processed, not date of death.

• This flu season, 3 influenza outbreaks have been reported from nursing homes or other congregate setting
institutions. In 2023-24, Arkansas investigated 41 outbreaks.

• Nationally, the proportion of deaths reported to the National Center for Health Statistics that were attributed
to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 (PIC) was below the epidemic threshold this week.​

continued: https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-con...ort-Week-Ending-Saturday-December-21-2024.pdf