North Carolina records first reported flu-related death of the season

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday its first reported flu-related death of the 2026-2027 flu season.

The case involved an adult in the central part of the state who died due to complications of the virus during the first week of October.

“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how serious the flu can be,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai in a statement.

Dr. David Wohl, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UNC’s School of Medicine, said people often try to “find the sweet spot” for timing their flu shot.

“They don’t want the vaccine to run out of steam towards late winter,” said Wohl in an interview with NC Newsline. “I do generally tell people that around October is a good time to get it.”

While the level of virus circulating now is low, Wohl said people shouldn’t wait until flu is more prevalent to protect themselves.

During last year’s respiratory virus season, North Carolina reported 335 flu-related deaths, including 10 children.

“We see the flu really comes on after the winter vacation, where we see a lot of mixing of people and college kids are all over the place,” said Wohl. “Again, you want to be covered through the first of the year, do it in October.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine every season to reduce the risk of serious complications or hospitalizations.

One addition to the vaccine line-up this year is a new mRNA flu shot. The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s mFlusiva in May for people 50 and older. The mRNA flu vaccine is produced using the same technology as the COVID vaccines, allowing it to be produced much more quickly than a traditional vaccine. Early research shows that it may also offer slightly longer-lasting protection than the traditional shot.

Combating COVID

While the 2020 pandemic may seem like a distant memory, Wohl said there are still summer and winter surges of COVID cases. It peaks in different regions of the country at different times, which can be helpful to know if traveling, said Wohl.

“The older you are, the more I’m going to suggest that you get an annual COVID shot,” Wohl recommended.

Wohl said there is also a new oral antiviral medication that can help prevent COVID after a known exposure. The FDA approved Xocova in June for adults and adolescents 12 and older for use after being exposed to COVID. Experts say the treatment could be especially helpful in households where one person has COVID and another family member is trying to avoid getting sick.

“We didn’t have that before,” Wohl said. “So, there are things we’re doing, not only vaccines, but also medicines that I think people need to be aware of.”

According to the state’s respiratory disease dashboard, as of the first week in October, just 1.9% of the statewide population has received a COVID-19 shot this year, with 6.6% receiving the flu vaccine.