Gov. Roy Cooper is urging North Carolinians to protect themselves against the flu after 34 people in the state died in less than a week’s time because of the virus.
“We're in the middle of a nationwide flu epidemic and I’m asking North Carolinians to do their part to stay healthy and stop the flu from spreading,” Cooper said in a statement. “There are a few simple actions we can all take to fight the flu: get your flu shot if you haven’t already, wash your hands and cover sneezes and coughs, and stay home from work or school if you get the flu.”
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports that 34 people died of the flu in the week of Jan. 28 to Feb. 3. Flu season started in October 2017. The department has tracked 140 deaths in the state so far this season.
