Minnesota Health Dept. Reports Season’s First Flu Death

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - State health officials today reported the season's first flu-related death in Minnesota.

The death of the adult patient was reported while overall influenza activity in Minnesota is still rated as sporadic. There were only 4 probable outbreaks reported in schools last week and 8 flu-related hospitalizations statewide. The number of people hospitalized due to flu-related complications this season is still below 20.

Depending on the severity of the flu season, Minnesota experiences dozens to hundreds of flu-related deaths each year. Last season, the Department of Health reported 95 deaths, while the death toll during the 2017-2018 flu season was the highest reported in the past five years at 440. The annual average, spread out over those five years, was 250 flu-related deaths.

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