CHARLOTTE — North Carolina has reported its first flu-related death of the season.
An adult in the central part of the state died due to flu complications earlier this month, according to a release from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
“Honestly, it’s just how early it is this year that has really kind of surprised us,” said Dr. Tony Moody, who specializes in infectious diseases.
The flu is always changing.
“Flu loves to just change the game and make it challenging,” Moody said. “So, this is likely going to be the first wave of flu that we see this year.”
Typically, there are three primary strains that circulate seasonally, and it’s hard to predict what to expect this flu season.
“This is why we encourage the kind of universal things for everyone, you know. If you’re sick, stay at home,” Moody said. “Wash your hands for goodness sakes. That’s probably the single most important thing we can do. We encourage people to get the vaccine, not because the vaccines are perfect, but they definitely reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or a bad outcome, and especially if you’re in one of the higher risk groups, they definitely have a benefit.”
Last year’s flu season was the third deadliest in North Carolina’s history.
There were 335 flu-related deaths; 10 of those were children.
Health experts are urging vaccination and early treatment to get ahead of this year’s respiratory virus season.
“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how serious the flu can be,” NCDHHS Sec. Dev Sangvai said. “We encourage everyone to take steps to protect themselves and others this respiratory virus season. Getting vaccinated, staying home when sick, washing hands regularly and covering coughs and sneezes can all help reduce the spread of seasonal illnesses.”
Experts recommend getting vaccinated during the early fall, so your immune system has time to build protection before the virus spreads.
NCDHHS says new flu and COVID-19 vaccines are now available. Experts say these vaccines are especially important for adults who are 65 or older, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems or preexisting health conditions.
Some families may qualify for free vaccines for children. Visit the NCDHHS website for more information.
South Carolina has not reported a flu-related death this season. The state reported 158 deaths during the peak of last season.
There’s a new flu vaccine available for people over 50 years old. mFlusiva was approved by the FDA earlier this year.
It uses mRNA technology, which scientists hope can help make it easier to match the shot to whatever flu strain is circulating each season.