UPDATE: Flu-Related Death Numbers Double Since Last Week
The Minnesota Department of Health releases its latest numbers on this season's flu-related deaths and hospitalizations.
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The influenza outbreak of 2012-13 has now killed 60 Minnesotans and hospitalized 1,842, according to information released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Health.
The department’s second weekly report on the flu outbreak more than doubles the number of reported deaths in the state; which totaled 27 last week.
The total number of deaths is now nearly as high as that of the swine flu outbreak of 2009-10, which killed 67 Minnesotans. The number of flu-related hospitalizations actually exceeds the total of 2009-10.
According to a Fox 9 news report, 88 percent of the deaths were patients age 65 or older, making up 53 of the 60 fatal cases this season. There were no deaths in the past week involving patients younger than 24.
The department’s latest report also showed that flu has struck a total of 107 skilled nursing facilities in the state, as well as 254 schools.
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Health officials say it is not too late to get a vaccinated. Richfield's Assumption Catholic Church is offering free flu shots from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday and other clinics are still offering the service. Clinics in the area are:
Allina Medical Clinic—Woodlake
Walgreens
- 12 W 66th St., Minneapolis
- 7845 Portland Ave. S., Bloomington
- 7940 Penn Ave. S., Bloomington
- 6975 York Ave. S., Edina
- 5415 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis
- 12 W 66th St., Richfield
The City of Richfield also offered some flu facts and other ways to avoid illness if you choose not to get vaccinated.
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In This article
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Assumption Catholic Church
305 E 77th St, Richfield, MN -
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Allina Medical Clinic - Woodlake
407 W 66th St, Minneapolis, MN -
HCMC Richfield Clinic
44 W 66th St, Richfield, MN -
Rainbow Foods
140 W 66th St, Richfield, MN
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Target Pharmacy
6445 Richfield Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN -
Walgreens Drug Stores
12 W 66th St, Minneapolis, MN -
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Fabuladico
3:25 pm on Saturday, January 19, 2013
The flu doen't just knock on the door and sweep into a person's house like the proverbial thief in the night. It's carried in. I wonder how many of those 60 deaths and 1842 hospitalizations could have been avoided if people who had the flu didn't go out with the bug to go shopping, to movies, to work and so on because somehow they think they're too tough to be beaten down by this bug. For those who have it, you're not being heroic by spreading it to everyone around you, and the person you give it to may well be the next death. Think of others. Stay home. If you can't, wear a face mask, wash your hands after using the restroom, and for goodness sakes, cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze! Then wash your hands again.