Rowan County health director warns of severe flu season and rising deaths

Rowan County’s health director told commissioners March 3 that this flu season is classified as high severity — the first such season in the county since 2017 — and reported seven influenza-related deaths since February.

The director said influenza A strains H1N1 and H3N2 were the most prevalent and that H3N2’s tendency to mutate can lead to repeat illness. She said seasonal flu activity had shown a recent slow decrease but that medical visits, hospitalizations and deaths remained elevated and that health officials expected several more weeks of activity.

Locally, the director reported two flu outbreaks in nursing facilities and said the emergency department at Novant Health Rowan has seen a high census of influenza-like illness patients with extended wait times. She noted that flu and pneumonia are the county’s seventh leading cause of death and that the recent deaths ranged in age from 35 to 85.

The director told commissioners that none of the deceased had been vaccinated and cited CDC interim estimates that the flu vaccine can reduce severe illness and hospitalization by up to 78% for children and up to 55% for adults. She recommended vaccination, increased respiratory hygiene (handwashing, staying home when sick), good sleep, healthy diet and community connection to support immunity.

The director said she was monitoring vital statistics and communicable-disease reports and that chronic comorbidities (COPD, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, substance use) had been present in recent deaths. She urged residents to avoid exposing vulnerable people and to seek vaccination if eligible.