LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The latest report from the Department of Health shows Arkansas flu activity continues to rank Low for the second week in a row after many weeks of High or Very High activity.

The report for the week ending March 30 placed flu activity at a 4 on the 13-point scale used by reporting agencies. Last week, flu activity was at a 5 on the same scale, the first time in the current flu season that the state saw a low activity ranking.

Health officials said Arkansas had seen a Very High flu activity ranking through February.

ADH officials reported six flu-related and 51 pneumonia-related patient deaths for the week. No COVID-19 deaths were listed in the weekly report.

ADH officials said that since the flu season began on Oct. 1, 2023, the state has had 110 patients who died due to flu, 70% of whom were not vaccinated. Of these deaths, 78 were people over 65.

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 132 people in the state since Jan. 1, according to the ADH report, with 710 dying due to the disease in 2023.

Nursing homes and other congregate settings have had 35 outbreaks during this flu season, unchanged from the previous week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 31 million illnesses, 350,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths from flu have occurred nationally so far this season. This is an increase from the previous week’s 30 million illnesses, 340,000 hospitalizations and 21,000 deaths.

ADH officials stated in the report that the numbers only reflect a portion of the total illnesses since only reports of flu and COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths and outbreaks are recorded.