Flu Activity Climbing in Minnesota

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) -- Minnesota health officials have seen an increase in flu activity over the past week.

The latest influenza activity update from the state health department has raised the overall rating of that activity from “local” to regional.”

The change is largely due to a significant jump in the number of flu-related hospitalizations last week. While the number remained low at 24, it was the largest weekly total since the first week of the current season when the department reported almost 40 hospitalizations. The report also shows the percentage of positive results for influenza in specimens submitted for testing doubled during the past week to just under 5-percent last week.

It is still a quiet season compared to recent years. There were only 6 probable outbreaks reported in Minnesota schools last week and only 1 confirmed outbreak in a long-term care facility.

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