NORTH CAROLINA -- One person has died as a result of the flu this season in North Carolina.

• The first flu death of the season has been reported in North Carolina.
• Several died before the flu season officially began.
• The person was an adult and died in the central part of the state. 

The Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement Thursday.

We know that the person who died was an adult and that it happened in the central part of the state last week.

Several others died from the flu before the flu season officially began. During last year's flu season, nearly 400 deaths were reported in North Carolina.

It was the highest death toll in a flu season since it became a requirement to report adult flu deaths.  

Of those deaths, nearly 300 were 65 and older. Seven were under 18.