Arkansas reported 107 influenza-related deaths this season including one pediatric death, the Arkansas Department Health (ADH) last week. Since Jan. 1, there have been 85 COVID-19-related deaths in the state. Nationally, CDC estimates that there have been at least 37 million illnesses, 480,000 hospitalizations, and 21,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
ADH produces a Weekly Viral Respiratory Diseases Report for clinicians. The report provides information on Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) activity in the state. The report also compares activities in Arkansas to the U.S. ADH receives reports of only a fraction of COVID-19 cases and flu cases since it only requires reports of flu hospitalizations, deaths, and outbreaks. RSV is not a reportable disease in Arkansas. Therefore, it is important to understand that the information in the weekly update is representative of the timing and location of activity, but it does not reflect the overall disease burden. It is presumed that there are many more people actually affected than the report shows. Clinicians and policymakers may find the report helpful in terms of communicating to colleagues and patients about the current status of viral respiratory diseases in the state and nationwide.
Report Key Points for Week 9:
• Arkansas reported “Moderate” or 7 out of 13 for the Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) activity level indicator
determined by data reported to ILINet.
• Hospital Emergency Department visits reported through Syndromic Surveillance were at 6.12% for Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI), 1.76% for COVID-Like-Illness (CLI), and 0.36% for Respiratory Syncytial
Virus (RSV).
• Outpatient visits for ILI reported through ILINet from the Sentinel Providers were at 3.72%.
