21 new flu deaths reported in NC

According to the latest flu death numbers from the N.C. Division of Public Health, 21 people died from the flu last week.

Posted 5:16 p.m. Feb 28, 2019 — Updated 10:05 p.m. Feb 28, 2019

Natalie Matthews

, WRAL digital journalist

According to the latest flu death numbers from the N.C. Division of Public Health, 21 people died from the flu last week.

Between Feb. 17 and Feb. 23, 21 new flu deaths were reported in North Carolina. Last week's numbers included the first child-related flu death.

The additional 21 deaths bring the total deaths for the season to 98.

Flu season starts in late September and peaks in February and March. Flu season officially ends May 18.

During the 2017-18 flu season, nearly 400 deaths in North Carolina were attributed to the flu, the highest death toll in a single flu season since state officials began publicly reporting flu deaths in 2009.

More than a year ago, on Feb. 3, 2018, total flu deaths in the state were already at 140. While this year's numbers aren't as high, they are still concerning, and health officials continue to emphasize that it is not too late to get a flu shot.

Of the 2018 flu season deaths, 290 were people who were 65 years and older, while seven of them were under the age of 18, state officials said.

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