The latest report from the state Health Department shows that influenza deaths have increased in Arkansas.
According to the report, 15 additional deaths were reported since the last report, and brings the state total to 101. Of those, 77 percent had not been vaccinated. One of those deaths was a pediatric death.
The report also showed that since Oct. 2, 2022, 17,800 positive influenza tests had been reported by health care providers. That number reflects only a portion of the total number of influenza cases in Arkansas.
Due to the holidays, there were no public school absentee reports due to influenza.
The Centers for Diseases Control estimates that so far this season, there have been at least 18-million illnesses, 190,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths from flu nationwide.
Twenty nursing homes and other institutions have reported influenza outbreaks this season.
