Arkansas – The Arkansas Department of Health has seen 392 positive flu tests, and 4 cumulative flu deaths have been reported since the 2020 season began on Sept. 27.
The ADH noted that the average school absentee rate was about 7.2% in public schools, up from 6.8% the previous week. They said that many schools did not report
According to the ADH website, the Dec. 1 report showed Arkansas had a “minimal” illness rate in the influenza-like-illness activity level for the week ending Nov. 28.
Of the flu cases reported for the week ending Nov. 28, 52% were influenza A and 48% were influenza B. Only 1.1% of emergency room visits this week were for the flu, while about 1% of outpatient visits were ILI or ILINet sentinel providers.
Last month, a PCR test confirmed the state’s first death of a person 65 years of age or older. It did not provide what county the patient died in.
No nursing homes have reported influenza outbreaks so far this season.