27 new flu deaths reported, bringing state’s total to 200 for season

State health officials announced Thursday that 27 more people died in the state in the last week because of the flu.

That brings the total number of flu-related deaths in North Carolina for the season to 200.

On Wednesday, health officials said 23 more people had died from the flu in South Carolina.

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The Department of Health and Environmental Control said that the latest deaths bring the total in the state to 151 deaths since the flu season started in October.

DHEC said more than 17,000 people were hospitalized with flu last week. That’s down about 500 cases the previous week.