10 new flu deaths reported, bringing NC total to 42 this season

North Carolina has reported 10 new flu deaths for the week from Jan. 7-Jan. 13, bringing the total number of deaths to 42 for the flu season that began Oct. 1, 2017.

The CDC recommends everybody older than 6 months of age should get a flu shot every season.

While a flu shot will not make you invincible to the virus, according to the CDC, “An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of getting sick with seasonal flu and spreading it to others.”

This year’s vaccine protects patients against three or four strains, according to Dr. Sue Lynn Ledford, Wake County Public Health Director.

The flu season is especially challenging for local healthcare providers because of an IV bag shortage. Supplies of saline and nutrient solutions were already tight before hurricanes pounded Puerto Rico and cut power to manufacturing plants that make much of the U.S. supply of fluid-filled bags used to deliver sterile solutions to patients.

The latest numbers follow a call from hospitals in several regions to restrict child visitation. Those restrictions are expected to remain in place through the end of March.

An analysis of the latest deaths by the Winston-Salem Journal shows 12 of the 16 latest flu-related deaths were people age 65 and older. The other four were age 50 to 64.

For the 2017-18 season, there have been 25 elderly deaths, 12 from age 50 to 64, three from age 25 to 49 and two from age 5 to 17.