The Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) weekly respiratory disease report released Wednesday shows the intensity level moved up one notch and school absenteeism rates are climbing. The scale has three levels of very high, three levels of high, two levels of moderate, two levels of low and three levels of minimal. This weeks level is in the highest of the high level.
Six new deaths were attributed to the flu last week and 21 flu deaths have been reported since Sept. 29.
There were 73 deaths reported the past week by the ADH due to pneumonia in the state.
Five new COVID-19 deaths were reported this past week. There have been 15 COVID deaths since the first of the year. The total number of deaths since Jan. 1 of 2024 in Arkansas due to COVID is 527.
For the week ending this past Saturday, Jan. 25, the ADH reported 166 new flu-related hospitalizations in Arkansas and 65 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Sixteen influenza outbreaks have been reported at nursing homes or other congregate setting institutions so far this flu season, up two from last week.
The report also provides the percentage of students absent in each county for the week. Here are the counties in north central Arkansas and their absenteeism rate:
Baxter – 8.97 (last week was 7.10)
Marion – 12.44 (last week was 8.38)
Fulton – 9.33 (last week was 7.92)
Izard – 9.86 (last week was 5.49)
Stone – 6.07 (last week was 4.50)
Searcy – 9.91 (last week was 7.01)
Boone – 8.59 (last week was 7.68)
Newton – 8.78 (last week was 7.19)
To view the entire report from the ADH follow this link: viralrespiratorydiseasesreport012925
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