A southern US state has recorded its first death from the flu for the 2025 to 2026 winter virus season.
The death is among the first recorded for the 2025 to 2026 respiratory virus season, which is set to last from this month to May next year.
North Carolina state epidemiologist Dr Zack Moore, said: ‘This is a sad reminder that flu infections can be serious and, in some cases, even fatal.
Flu levels are currently ‘minimal’ nationwide, according to CDC surveillance, but have risen slightly in four states, including North Carolina.
In North Carolina, the state recorded its worst flu season last year since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, registering 544 fatalities.
The first flu-related death for the 2025–2026 winter virus season has been reported in a southern US state.
An adult in the western region of North Carolina passed away in the first week of October after experiencing flu-related complications, according to confirmation from health officials.
No other information was disclosed, including the patient’s name, age, or duration of virus illness.
The death is one of the first known for the respiratory virus season of 2025–2026, which is expected to run from this month through May of the following year.
At least six California counties reinstated mask requirements for visitors and medical personnel in specific healthcare settings, such as dialysis centers, long-term care facilities, and nursing homes, during the same week.
State experts maintain that the coverings can help prevent infections, even though a major review found that they had “little to no difference” in the spread of Covid during the pandemic.
“This is a sad reminder that flu infections can be serious and, in some cases, even fatal,” state epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore of North Carolina said.
In order to prevent spreading the flu and other respiratory diseases, we advise everyone to take preventative measures, such as getting vaccinated annually, washing their hands frequently, covering their cough, and staying at home when ill. “.”.
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Most people who have the flu die from complications brought on by the illness rather than the infection itself. The illness can impair immunity, increasing the chance of sepsis or pneumonia, both of which can be deadly.
Although CDC surveillance indicates that flu levels are currently “minimal” nationwide, they have somewhat increased in four states, including North Carolina. Wisconsin, Illinois, and Connecticut also have high levels.
Nationally, RSV and norovirus levels are likewise low, but wastewater surveillance indicates that Covid levels are “moderate.”.
Experts warn that when the temperature drops, people will spend more time indoors interacting with one another, which makes it easier for respiratory viruses to spread. They claim that since the country is still in the early stages of the winter virus season, levels are currently low.
Respiratory virus infections, hospitalizations, and fatalities typically reach their highest point each year between December and February, after which they start to progressively decrease.
The CDC described last year’s flu season as “one of the worst” in more than ten years, with an estimated 40 million Americans contracting the illness, 400,000 being hospitalized, and 25,000 dying from complications related to their infections. Cases in that year peaked in early February and then started to decline.
Last year’s flu season in North Carolina was the worst since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, with 544 fatalities.
In a press release published online on Wednesday, the North Carolina Department of Health announced the flu death.
Now, it is recommending that all residents who are six months of age or older get vaccinated against the flu.
Additionally, it stated that even after the CDC, which was led by Robert F. Kennedy, changed its recommendations to recommend Covid vaccines to people who were 18 years of age and older, the vaccine was still advised for everyone six months of age and older. The organization advises parents to talk to their doctor about the advantages of vaccinations for children ages six months to seventeen.
According to the most recent data available, the CDC reports that eight flu-related deaths occurred nationwide in the week ending September 20.
Despite the fact that the CDC states that the 2025–2026 flu season starts in October, flu deaths were probably reported elsewhere in the United States this week.
“We see more respiratory illnesses as it gets colder and we’re headed into that season,” Tina Payton, the Wake County Director of Nursing, told ABC11. Wake County is the North Carolina County for Raleigh, the state capital in its central area.
Before the holidays, when people congregate indoors and the risk of illness is higher, it allows you to strengthen your immunity. “.”.
The announcement follows the reinstatement of mask requirements in certain healthcare facilities in at least six California Bay Area counties: Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Napa, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz.
Health professionals and, in certain situations, patients or visitors will be required to cover their faces in medical settings where frail, ill, or vulnerable patients are present as of November 1.
In Sonoma County, the mandate is scheduled to be renewed annually unless it is repealed.
Few other counties have reportedly considered requiring face masks as of yet, but experts predict that this could change as cooler weather arrives.
According to data for North Carolina, the percentage of visits to the state’s emergency rooms for respiratory illnesses decreased from 6 percent in the previous seven days to 5 percent in the week ending October 4, the latest available data.
Covid-like infections, or infections suspected of being Covid but not confirmed, accounted for 1 in 8 ED visits in the most recent week. Flu-like infections, at 0 in 6 cases, and RSV-like infections, at 0 in 2 cases, were also suspected of being caused by these diseases but not confirmed by testing.
The respiratory virus type afflicting the remaining 2–8% of the population was not identified.
