4 pediatric influenza deaths reported in MN this season, 2 in the past week
MN hospitals deal with spike in flu, other illnesses
Hospitals in the Twin Cities and across the region are being stretched thin trying to keep up with the soaring number of flu patients seeking care.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Data released by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) shows four pediatric influenza-related deaths this season, with two of them happening in the past week.
Respiratory illnesses in MN
By the numbers:
The latest pediatric influenza deaths come after a widespread spike in cases across Minnesota.
There were four pediatric deaths in Minnesota during the 2023-24 influenza season, two in the 2022-23 season and two in the 2021-22 season.
The total number of influenza deaths so far this season is 347, with 270 in the 2023-24 season, 224 in the 2022-23 season and 71 in the 2021-22 season.
A total of 7,442 people have been hospitalized for influenza this season so far, with 47 this week and 72 the week before.
There were 4,375 hospitalizations from 2023-24, 3,338 from 2022-23, and 905 from 2021-22.
The MDH report shows there have been 207 school outbreaks this season, and a total of 132 outbreaks came from long-term care facilities.
READ MORE: 2 kids are Michigan's first pediatric flu deaths with several others being investigated
Flu cases spike in MN
The backstory:
According to the MDH, they are seeing the highest number of weekly flu-related hospitalizations in several years.
READ MORE: MN hospitals see high number of flu cases and other respiratory viruses
This week's full report from the Minnesota Department of Health can be viewed here.
The Source: This story used information from the Minnesota Department of Health's weekly influenza and respiratory illness report.