13 flu deaths in state this season, health officials say

— Health officials say 13 people have died from the flu in Arkansas this season.

Arkansas Department of Health’s Dr. Gary Wheeler said Wednesday that officials expect more deaths throughout the flu season.

Wheeler says there are some signs that the spread of the flu is slowing nationally, but he says it’s too soon to tell if that’s the case in Arkansas.

The severity of flu season varies by year and the past couple of seasons have been comparatively mild. In 2009, more than 50 people died from the flu in Arkansas.

See an interactive here on this flu season across the U.S.

Wheeler says it’s not too late for people to get flu vaccines.

Flu symptoms tend to come on quickly, with fever, headache, body aches, cough and chills.

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