The 2011-2012 influenza season officially began on October 2, 2011. The NC Department of Public Health (DPH) reports that influenza activity has been low, with no positive specimens identified by the State Laboratory of Public Health as of October 8, 2011. Hospital-based Public Health Epidemiologists (PHEs) also reported no positive influenza results for the week ending October 8, 2011.

DPH and the Communicable Disease Branch urge physicians and other professional health care workers to receive influenza immunizations to minimize the impact and spread of influenza this season.