Arkansas Department of Health weekly report shows flu activity ‘Very High' in the state
Arkansas has jumped from a high activity of 10 on a 13-point scale from the previous week's report to 12 in the current report. This is the highest activity level the state has seen for the 2024-2025 flu season since its Sept. 26, 2024, start.
Sylvan Hills High School student dies from flu
ADH reports nine patient deaths due to flu for the week, bringing the total to 30 for the year. The report's authors state 80% of the deaths were non-vaccinated patients. Most of the deaths due to flu were 21 in the 65-and-over age group.
The report showed 37 patients have died due to COVID-19 since Jan. 1.
The school absenteeism rate jumped over a percentage point, from 9.64% in the previous week to 10.94% in the Feb. 1 week report.
Nursing homes and other congregate settings have reported 28 flu outbreaks during this flu season, a jump of 12 outbreaks since the previous week's report.
Feeling sick? Here's what you might have
ADH is careful to note in the report that only a fraction of COVID-19 and flu cases are reported since the agency only requires reports of flu hospitalizations, deaths, and outbreaks. Officials added that Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is not a reportable disease in Arkansas.
Dr. Brad Jenkins, Medical Director For The Emergency Department At Baptist Health Spring Hill In North Little Rock, said early flu treatment is important. He said the most common medicines are Xofluza and Tama Flu
'The key is with the flu, you've got about 48 hours, 72 at the most, for those two medicines to really make any difference whatsoever,' he said, adding that flu is harder for certain groups.
'It's going to generally be harder on your older people, unvaccinated people, people with underlying health conditions like diabetes, and with COPD, and heart disease,' the doctor said.
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