Minnesota Flu Hospitalizations Climb Above 1,800

Nearly 500 flu hospitalizations last week have pushed this year’s totals above the deadly 2009 pandemic.

Minnesota had 476 confirmed flu hospitalizations between Jan. 6 and Jan. 12, bringing the season’s total to 1,842, according to figures the Minnesota Department of Health released Thursday.

There were also 33 deaths confirmed last week for a season total of 60. Those deaths include St. Louis Park teen Carly Christenson and 17-year-old Max Schwolert.

This time last year, flu cases were lower in Minnesota than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. (Hopkins-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 "intense," while it was categorized as "low" at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends.

In comparison, the 2009 pandemic tallied more than 1,700 people hospitalized statewide, according to the Star Tribune.

Community members are advised to:

1. Stay home when ill.
2. Cover your cough
3. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
4. Treat symptoms with over the counter medications.
5. Seek prescribed medication treatment such as antiviral (Tamiflu) only ig you'tr sn individual at high risk of complications (older than 65, younger than 2, or with chronic diseases).

All healthy visitors are reminded to:

1. Clean your hands after arriving and before departing;
2. Use a tissue or your sleeve when you cough or sneeze;
3. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following information:

• Who should get vaccinated
• When to get vaccinated
• Selecting a flu vaccine
• Symptoms, complications and severity
• Treatment if you get the flu
• How flu spreads

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