Central NC adult is state’s first flu death this season; new flu shot for older people is approved, UNC doctor says

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina has reported its first flu-related death of the season, with an adult from the central part of the state as the victim.

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The announcement comes as doctors urge people to get vaccinated now, before cases typically ramp up in the coming months.

Dr. David Weber from UNC’s School of Medicine said flu activity remains relatively low for now, and hospitals are still seeing more covid patients than flu patients.

“We had about 25 cases last week, including three people admitted with influenza. We’re still seeing more COVID at the moment than we’re seeing influenza.”

According to the CDC, the 2025-26 season included the following:

• At least 32 million reported cases of the flu virus
• 15 to 25 million doctor visits
• Between 380,000 and 390,000 hospitalizations
• At least 24,000 deaths

Weber stresses that flu shots change because every season is different, and people need an annual flu shot because the virus changes from season to season and protection decreases over time.

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“So, what’s happened in Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil; that’s what we use to decide on what we’re going to put in our vaccine for this year and how bad the season might be,” Weber said. “Not so much what happened last year, but what’s happened in the last six months in the southern hemisphere.”

Weber said there is a brand-new flu shot this season, just approved by the FDA a few weeks ago. He said it is allowed for people 50 and older.

“In a couple of studies that were published, it actually turned out to be superior to the current vaccines we give to older individuals and that new mRNA vaccine is also available in pharmacies.”

Getting the flu shot does not mean a person will not get the flu, but it does reduce chances of hospitalization. Weber said now is the time to get your shot because it takes three weeks to build immunity against the virus.

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