The number of people killed by the flu nears 100 in NC, including 7 children

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- New numbers from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services show the flu has killed 95 people this season including seven children.

Data found on NCDHHS's website shows from Dec. 31-Jan. 6, flu deaths were the highest they have been this season.

The new numbers were released as flu patients hit record hospitalizations in North Carolina a few weeks ago.

Also according to NCDHHS, 17.2% of ED visits were for respiratory viruses. That is a decrease from 23.3% the week before. About 3% of those were for flu-like illness.

There were 763 people admitted to the hospital for the flu. That is a 27.7% decrease from the week before when there were 1,055 people admitted.

WakeMed Hospital Infection Prevention Specialist Jessica Dixon said it appears RSV has already peaked and flu is on the downward trend, but there are still dangers.

"We can have multi-phasic waves where you have a bump up and bump back down, and then a bump up and bump back down," said Dixon. "I think the other thing to remember about all of this is even if you hit the top of your curve, there is as many infections on the downside of that curve as there were on the way up."

Dixon said nationwide, 45 percent of Americans are vaccinated against the flu, but just 11 percent of people got the COVID-19 shot.

"I wouldn't say you are out of the woods. If you are someone who is in that 55 percent of people who has not gotten their flu shot yet, it is not too late to get it," said Dixon.