UPDATE: Flu's Impact Begins to Wane in Minnesota

Influenza killed 15 more Minnesotans last week, bringing the total number of state deaths in the current outbreak to 75--more than the total number of state residents killed during the last big outbreak during 2009-10.

But the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) weekly flu update, released Thursday afternoon, also contained good news: Only 208 people across the state were newly hospitalized last week with laboratory-confirmed influenza, a big drop from the 476 hospitalized the previous week.

Health Department spokesman Doug Schultz told WCCO that it will be another week before officials know for sure where the flu season has peaked in Minnesota. But he added that trends are pointing in that direction.

For example, there were only nine confirmed outbreaks in long-term care facilities last week; there were more than 50 the week before.

Health officials say it is not too late to get a vaccinated. Clinics offering the shots in the area are:

Allina Medical Clinic—Woodlake

CVS Pharmacy

HCMC Richfield Clinic

Rainbow Foods

Target Pharmacy

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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Related articles:

• Flu-Related Deaths Double Since Last Week
• Ask the Patch Pro: Influenza
• UPDATE: Flu Rates Skyrocket in Minnesota; 27 Deaths Now Reported
• Fifth Flu Related Death Confirmed in Minnesota
• CDC Says Flu Rates Up in Minnesota; Where to Get Immunized in Richfield