Flu activity level low but deaths reach 179 for this flu season, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).
ADH produces a Weekly Viral Respiratory Diseases Report for clinicians. The report provides information on Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity in the state. The report also compares activities in Arkansas to the U.S. ADH receives reports of only a fraction of COVID-19 cases and flu cases since it only requires reports of flu hospitalizations, deaths, and outbreaks. RSV is not a reportable disease in Arkansas. Therefore, it is important to understand that the information in the weekly update is representative of the timing and location of activity, but it does not reflect the overall disease burden. It is presumed that there are many more people actually affected than the report shows. Clinicians and policymakers may find the report helpful in terms of communicating to colleagues and patients about the current status of viral respiratory diseases in the state and nationwide. Report Key Points for Week 17: • Arkansas reported “Minimal” or 1 out of 13 for the Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) activity level indicator determined by data reported to ILINet. • Hospital Emergency Department visits reported through Syndromic Surveillance were at 1.75% for Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI), 1.22% for COVID-Like-Illness (CLI), and 0.03% for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). • Outpatient visits for ILI reported through ILINet from the Sentinel Providers were at 1.62%. • Arkansas Children’s Hospitals and associated clinic locations in central and northwest Arkansas report Human metapneumovirus test positivity with an increase to 10%; RSV and COVID -19 increased to 3%; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Pertussis, Influenza B, Flu A, H3 and Flu A, H1 2009 are below 2%. • The average school absenteeism rate last week was 6.78% among public schools. • Arkansas reported 179 influenza-related deaths this season including 3 pediatric deaths, 78.2% of them were not vaccinated. • Nationally, CDC estimates that there have been at least 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalizations, and 26,000 deaths from flu so far this season. • Arkansas reported 8 COVID-19-related deaths this week. There was a total of 533 COVID-19-related deaths in 2024. Since January 1, 2025 there have been 137 COVID-19-related deaths. The weekly deaths reflect week reported, not date of death. • This flu season, 52 influenza outbreaks have been reported from nursing homes or other congregate setting institutions. • Nationally, the proportion of deaths reported to the National Center for Health Statistics that were attributed to pneumonia, influenza and COVID-19 (PIC) was below the epidemic threshold this week.
