Community Corner

UPDATE: Flu-Related Deaths Now Total 112 in Minnesota

However, new hospitalizations are still going down.

Influenza killed 36 more Minnesotans last week, bringing the total number of state deaths in the current outbreak to 112.

But the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) weekly flu update, released Thursday afternoon, also reported that the number of people across the state newly hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza dropped to 135, down from 208 the previous week and a big drop from the 476 hospitalized the week before.

A total of 2,367 Minnesotans have have been hospitalized since the current outbreak began.

Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to a Minneapolis Public Radio report, officials now believe it's safe to say the outbreak is waning.

Kris Ehresmann, director of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at MDH, said it's unlikely the state could see a second peak in influenza activity, as it did during the H1N1 pandemic of 2009.

Find out what's happening in Richfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"That is very unusual, so we're hoping that because we're seeing a slowdown in activity (now), that means that the activity will remain slow now until the end of the season."

Across the state, eight long-term care facilities and 36 schools reported outbreaks of influenza during the Jan. 20-26 period. Since the start of the season, there have been 134 outbreaks of influenza in long-term care facilities and 412 outbreaks in schools.

There were no reported outbreaks in District 196 schools last week, said district 196 spokesman Tony Taschner.

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's Impact Begins to Wane in Minnesota
  • 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


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