One person died from flu in Arkansas last week, according to a weekly report from the state Department of Health.
The fatality raises the season's toll to 18 since late September -- still well below the 118 deaths officials reported during the 2019-2020 flu season.
Health experts say measures used to fight the coronavirus pandemic, such as wearing masks and hand-washing, have lessened influenza transmissions.
Of recent flu deaths in Arkansas, 13 people were over age 65, three people were 45 to 64 and two were 25 to 44, agency data shows.
The report for the week that ended Saturday said overall flu activity remains "minimal," at the lowest level of a 13-point scale. Providers reported 1,900 positive flu tests this year.
Most flu cases, however, aren't recorded by the state, as many people do not seek treatment for flu.
Last week, nine people were hospitalized with positive flu tests. Overall, Arkansas has had 189 hospital admissions related to flu this year, according to the report.
School absentee rates used to track potential disease outbreaks also remained low, with only Desha and Mississippi counties reporting that more than 10% of students were out of class last week.
Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show "minimal" flu activity in all U.S. states and territories as of early March. No new deaths of children were logged, leaving the total at one for the season.
Roughly 1 in 7 recent deaths across the nation were attributed to pneumonia, influenza or covid-19, federal regulators said, with the bulk of those thought to be related to covid-19.