Severe flu cases are expected to rise soon in NC. These areas could have it the worst
Editor’s note: Find updated information about winter viruses circulating North Carolina here.
Fall marks the start of flu season, which means a fever, cough or runny nose could be imminent.
Flu cases and deaths typically spike around the holiday season, according to historical data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. David Weber, an infectious disease specialist at the UNC School of Medicine, told The Charlotte Observer the rise in flu cases during the holidays is partly due to low temperatures, where the virus can thrive.
Why do people get the flu in winter?
Like previous years, severe flu cases are expected to rise after the holiday season, particularly in the Charlotte and Raleigh metro regions due to their higher populations, Weber said.
“In addition, in the winter months, we’re indoors more and we heat our home, so it tends to dry out our mucous membranes, making us more vulnerable to these viruses,” Weber said.
The surge in severe flu cases can also be attributed to holiday travel, Weber said, adding crowded airports and large family gatherings can lead to higher rates of transmission.
Here’s what to know about flu trends in North Carolina, whether you should get a vaccine and where to get one.
Flu trends in NC
NCDHHS data includes the percent of emergency department (ED) visits due to flu-like illness compared to total ED visits week to week across the state, split up into seven regions. (The department does not report number of cases across the state, media relations manager Kelly Haight Connor told Observer in an email.)
Historical data suggests the number of ED flu-related visits is about to grow exponentially.
In 2023, ED visits for flu-like illness made up 17% of total visits in the Charlotte metro region and 9.3% in the Raleigh-Durham region during the week of Dec. 30, data shows. (For comparison, visits for flu-like illness made up 9% and about 4% of total visits in early December, respectively, in each region.)
There were also 39 flu-assocated deaths during the same week in 2023, including one pediatric death and 58 deaths the following week — the most in a single week that year — according to NCDHHS data.
Data shows that most flu-related deaths that occurred during the October 2023-September 2024 flu season were among people ages 65 and over.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Flu symptoms typically come on quickly, according to Clevland Clinic, and can include:
Fever
Chills
Body aches
Cough
Headache
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Fatigue
Diarrhea or vomiting (usually only in kids)
Should I get a flu vaccine?
The CDC recommends all people aged six months and older receive an updated flu vaccine.
“Vaccinations are especially important for those at higher risk of severe viral respiratory disease, including people 65 years and older, children younger than 5, pregnant women, those with a weakened immune system and those with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and obesity,” NCDHHS says.
A high-dose flu vaccine is available for those aged 65 and older to boost their immune system response to the virus, as they’re generally at high risk for severe flu and complications, according to Mayo Clinic.
This age group has a higher rate of hospital stays and flu-related deaths than younger people do.
Studies have shown that high-dose flu vaccines help prevent flu-related hospital stays better than standard-dose vaccines, and recipients have higher antibody levels to fight the virus, according to Mayo Clinic.
Where can I get a flu vaccine in NC?
▪ Walgreens customers can schedule appointments for flu vaccines at walgreens.com/findcare/schedule-vaccine.
▪ CVS customers can schedule appointments for flu vaccines at cvs.com/immunizations/flu.
▪ You can also find vaccines through the CDC’s online pharmacy lookup tool at vaccines.gov.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024 at 11:21 AM with the headline "Severe flu cases are expected to rise soon in NC. These areas could have it the worst."
