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The flu season finally seems to be down, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
Until now, it is the third most deadly season ever recorded. According to the latest weekly report on the influenza of ADH, there have been 97 flu-related deaths since October. And while most influenza-related deaths are in people over 64, a higher than normal percentage of deaths is in the 45 to 64 age group.
The latest report indicates that 31 of the 97 deaths from influenza this season occurred between ages 45 and 64. Generally, the percentage of deaths in the lower age group is lower. For example, in the 2017-2018 season – the most deadly ever recorded with 228 influenza-related deaths – 37 deaths occurred in the 45 to 64 age group and 172 in the 65 and older age group.
The 2014-15 season is the second deadliest ever recorded with about 110 flu-related deaths. Eighty-eight of these deaths were in the highest age group and 15 in the 45 to 64 age group. Just weeks away from the flu, the 2018-2019 influenza season should surpbad that of the 2014-2015 season in terms of the number of flu-related deaths.
Meg Mirivel, Director of Public Information at DHA, explained that the 2014-15 and 2017-18 seasons had influenza A H3N2 as the main influenza strain in circulation. This strain is known to have a major impact on people over 65 years old.
"The current season started with influenza A H1N1 as the dominant strain, which is why we have observed a significant percentage of deaths in the 45 to 64 age group," Mirivel wrote. "Over the course of the season, influenza A H3N2 caused more deaths from influenza in the over 65 age group, so the season was mixed with H1N1 and H3N2 strains."
The DHA has issued 239,767 influenza vaccines in ADH facilities, but the department does not have data on influenza vaccines given outside of the DHA, particularly in pharmacies and doctors' offices.
Mirivel added that last week, the DHA had reported a regional activity intensity level of "7/10". This figure is lower than what ADH had reported in recent weeks.
"But it still shows us that there is significant influenza activity in this state," wrote Mirivel. "It's not too late to get vaccinated against the flu."
Weekly Influenza Weekly Report 14 will be released Tuesday by the DHA.
Another indicator of the decline in influenza activity was two weeks in a row of declining claims paid by Medicaid and BlueCross BlueShield of Arkansas. After a slight increase in mid-March to about 5,900 applications, their numbers dropped to about 4,300 in the following weeks, and last week the DHA reported about 3,200 requests.
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