As North Carolina faces an all-time high in flu deaths this 2024-25 respiratory virus season, NC State is looking ahead. To add insult to injury, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has verified that yes, indeed, the state has seen more than 500 deaths from flu. That number is the most since flu fatalities were first tracked in 2009. This alarming statistic brings flu deaths nearly on par with the approximately 600 Covid-19 deaths reported in the state between October and April.
In fact, the NCDHHS has already administered one of their strongest warnings about the rising flu epidemic. We continue working with health officials to get out ahead of this dangerous situation and limit the harm it will do to our community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to monitor this outbreak. They’re offering advice and encouragement to the state as it directs resources to tackle this unprecedented health emergency.
North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Devdutta Sangvai called it a public health emergency. He rightly sounded the alarm over the unprecedented number of flu-associated deaths and hospitalizations. This flu season is shaping up to be an especially severe one, with thousands of residents statewide—including hundreds of kids—hospitalized by the easily preventable disease.
For this reason, experts stress the importance of recognizing that flu can be a more serious illness than Covid-19 in many cases. This further underscores the serious nature of the ongoing outbreak. Dr. Kelly Kimple, head of the CDC’s STLT support unit, discussed the need for strong public health infrastructure when faced with such escalating numbers.
“This trust is a clear signal that public health is more important than ever,” – Dr. Kelly Kimple.
Given the sudden strains of this crisis, health officials are calling for strong, long-term investment in our public health infrastructure. Dr. Kimple expressed that it is critical to align public trust with real action to better safeguard communities.
“Now is the time to match that trust with stable, long-term investment in our public health workforce and infrastructure so we can continue to protect our communities for years to come,” – Dr. Kelly Kimple.
Flu season is hitting North Carolina hard this year. The NCDHHS continues to take aggressive steps to reduce the scope of the outbreak. These measures include intensifying and targeting public health campaigns, increasing access to HPV vaccinations, and boosting HPV surveillance activities.