COVID, flu, RSV cases drop for 8th straight week
North Carolina’s flu death toll so far this season has risen to 292. It is an increase of five more deaths compared to a week ago, according to the latest statewide data.
As the temperatures warm, fewer people are going to the hospital in North Carolina sick with respiratory illnesses.
State data released Wednesday shows just 7% of all emergency department visits are due to respiratory viruses, down over 1% from just last week. Across all hospitals in the state, just over 1,000 patients combined are being treated for COVID-19, flu or RSV.
Of the total deaths reported so far this flu season, at least 14 were pediatric cases.
COVID-19, influenza and RSV have continued to decline statewide. This marks eighth straight weeks of a decline in cases.
Additionally, fewer COVID-19 particles were reported in wastewater in North Carolina this week. Data shows 23.5 million virus particles were detected compared to 41.3 million last week.
The decline in cases has led Duke University Health System Hospitals and WakeMed Hospitals to ease visitor restrictions.
North Carolina's flu season runs from October until May.
WRAL data trackers looked back at five years of pre-COVID flu data and determined the average number of deaths per flu season in North Carolina is 211. Historically, the majority of deaths occur late in the season, in February or March.
When to see a doctor
According to the Mayo Clinic, most common cold symptoms can be treated at home with rest and over-the-counter medicine.
Adults should see their doctor if they experience any of the following:
- Symptoms that get worse or do not get better
- Fever greater than 101.3 degrees that lasts more than three days
- Fever returning after a fever-free period
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Intense sore throat, headache or sinus pain
Children should see a doctor if they experience:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees in newborns up to 12 weeks.
- Rising fever or fever lasting more than two days in a child of any age
- More-intense symptoms, such as headache, throat pain or cough
- Trouble with breathing or wheezing
- Ear pain
- Fussiness or drowsiness that isn't typical
- No interest in eating
