Data from the North Carolina Department of Human and Health Services showed 69 adults died from the flu over the past week, along with two pediatric deaths.
As of January 7, the total number of flu deaths this season stands at 71. However, the number of emergency room and hospital admissions have decreased.
"We're, in fact, already at the same height that we had in our biggest past several years," However, we don't expect that the number will actually peak until late January to mid-February," said Dr. David Weber, the medical director of the Department of Infection Prevention and associate chief medical officer at UNC Hospitals
A new flu variant, Subclade-K, is driving most cases and is not covered by the current vaccine.
CDC estimated that nationwide, there have been at least 7.5 million people sick with the flu this season based on data through Dec. 20.
SEE ALSO | Siblings in Buncombe County test positive for measles after visiting South Carolina
Editor's Note: Featured video is from a previous report.