This year’s flu season in Arkansas is on track to break records and might not be one-third of the way over, officials said during a Tuesday news conference at the state Capitol.
“I’m very concerned about the impact,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “It’s very severe compared to previous years, and it’s still relatively early.”
Ninety-four influenza related deaths have been reported in the state, according to the most recent figures provided by the Arkansas Department of Health. Two of those victims were children, last week’s report said.
Health Department director Nathaniel Smith said flu season is about one-third of the way over, meaning if the spread continues at its current rate, the death toll could be more than 200.
“We haven’t seen anything like this for as long as we’ve been keeping careful records,” he said.
Hutchinson added that the rate at this point in the season is Arkansas’ second-highest in 17 years. By some metrics, he said, the state has the second-highest flu rate in the nation.
Smith said he could not provide a clear answer on what caused the severity of this flu season in the state, but he said the component in the vaccine targeted this year’s most common strain, H3N2, does not seem to be as effective. Still, it’s worth being vaccinated, he said.
“It’s not too late to get a flu shot,” Smith said. “It’s high time to do so.”
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.