Thursday, January 24, 2013
Department of Health says there were an additional 15 deaths last week, but that number of people hospitalized with flu-like symptoms has fallen dramatically.
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 …
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Here's where to get an influenza vaccine.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- John Ness
-
Thursday, January 17
This time last year, flu cases were lower in Minnesota than they are now, according to data on Google's Flu Trends. If you're considering getting a flu shot, here are some places in and near Minnetonka that offer the vaccine: Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota/ Children's Minnetonka Cub Foods North Memorial Clinic—Minnetonka Park Nicollet Clinic Rainbow Foods Target Walgreens Wayzata Children's Clinic According to this week's CDC Flu activity report, influenza levels are on the increase not just in Minnesota but across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following information: If you know of another place where people can get the flu vaccine, tell us in the comments.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Get answers from a medical doctor, a specialist in traditional Chinese medicine, and two public health professionals.
The numbers behind this winter's influenza epidemic can look really scary. It's sickened thousands and killed at least 27 in Minnesota alone, including a 14-year old St. Louis Park high schooler who was first hospitalized on Christmas Day. To top it off, the flu strains being passed around this year are spreading even further and faster than in most years. All together, it can make you worry that the next person to sneeze on you at the grocery store could give you the bug. It's the kind of worry that leaves you asking questions. How contagious is influenza? What can you do to steel yourself against the virus? How does a flu shot or an immune-boosting substance even work? To answer all your queries, Patch has asked a team of experts to …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Recent influenza reports have drastically increased since reports last month.
The flu season has been brutal so far, with many reported cases involving severe illnesses. Since the start of the influenza season, 578 people have been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Health reports for the 2012-2013 season. This is up from 30 people who were reportedly hospitalized this flu season in a report from last month. In addition, four influenza-related deaths have been confirmed this season, including St. Louis Park High School student Carly Christenson. Christenson, 14, came home from basketball practice with a bad sore throat Dec. 20 and was admitted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis on Dec. 24. On Jan. 3, doctors gave her a 50-50 chance to survive. This …
Becky Glander
10:06 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thanks Lisa! more ›