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.

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 …

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CDC Says Flu Rates Up Across Minnesota: Where to Get Flu Shots in Richfield

Here's where to get an influenza vaccine, how to recognize symptoms and what to know about treatment if you get sick.

Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States, including Minnesota, and some of the cases have involved severe illnesses. This time last year, flu cases were lower in Minnesota than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. (Richfield-specific data is not available on Flu Trends, but flu cases in the Twin Cities metro are in line with the state as a whole.) Overall in Minnesota, activity is categorized as "high," while it was categorized as "low" at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends. And not only is the flu season starting earlier than usual, some of the illnesses in Minnesota are severe. The Minnesota Department of Public Health reports that for this 2012-13 season, 30 people have been hospitalized with …

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Richfield News Sprouts

Residents Near Richfield Sewer Project Can Expect Short Power Outages

Five things you need to know today.

1) Wood Lake Nature Center is holding its Birds and Birdies Golf Tournament fundraiser Monday afternoon at Olympic Hills Golf Course in Eden Prairie. The tournament is the only totally green golf tournament in Minnesota. Good luck to all the golfers. 2) Bloomington-based Oasis for Youth is looking for host families in Richfield for homeless youth. There is a seminar from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 20 at Oak Grove Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. For more details on the needs of homeless children, visit oasisforyouth.org. 3) Xcel Energy is scheduled to begin undergrounding all utilities along 76th Street Monday, according to the Richfield Metro Sewer Project Facebook page. As previously reported by Patch, once this work is done, crews can finish the…

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