ADH weekly respiratory disease report Feb. 21 – level still very high, school absenteeism drops

The Arkansas Department of Health’s (ADH) weekly respiratory disease report released Friday shows the intensity level is still very high and school absenteeism rates in the area have dropped, but there were a larger number of new deaths reported in the state this past week.



The scale has three levels of very high, three levels of high, two levels of moderate, two levels of low and three levels of minimal. This week’s level is the lowest level of the very high level. Last week the level was in the middle of the very high category.

Twenty seven new deaths were attributed to the flu last week in Arkansas and 73 flu deaths have been reported since Sept. 29.

There were 83 deaths reported the past week by the ADH due to pneumonia in the state.

Fourteen new COVID-19 deaths were reported this past week. There have been 64 COVID deaths since the first of the year.

For the week ending this past Saturday, Feb. 15, the ADH reported 216 new flu-related hospitalizations in Arkansas and 75 new COVID-19 hospitalizations.

Thirty eight influenza outbreaks have been reported at nursing homes or other congregate setting institutions so far this flu season, up 5 from last week.

The report also provides the percentage of students absent in each county for the week. Here are the counties in north central Arkansas and their absenteeism rate:

Baxter – 8.50 (last week was 10.73)

Marion – 9.69 (last week was 13.64)

Fulton – 9.10 (last week was 9.73)

Izard – 9.75 (last week was 14.40)

Stone – 8.81 (last week was 9.41)

Searcy – 9.31 (last week was 13.15)

Boone – 10.76 (last week was 10.72)

Newton – 9.79 (last week was 9.82)

RESPIRATORY DISEASE REPORT 02/21/2025

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