RALEIGH (AP) — Health officials in North Carolina say eight more people died of flu-related illnesses last week, raising the death toll to 74 for the season dating back to November.
The state Department of Health and Human Services, which released the figures Thursday, says 54 of those deaths involved people between the ages of 24 and 65. Five victims were children, and another 15 were older than 65.
One of last week’s flu victims was identified as pediatric.
A year ago, 59 people died from flu-related symptoms during the six-month flu season that runs from early October to mid-May.
Last week, DHHS reported that seven people died from the flu. In each of the previous two weeks, the department said 11 people died from the flu.