Indianapolis, Indiana – The Indiana Department of Health reports that the number of flu-related deaths increased in just one week.
24 flu-related deaths have been reported by authorities so far this season. The number of deaths is 13 more than the previous week.
One of the fatalities this season was a person in the 25–49 age range, five others were in the 50–64 age range, and 18 others were at least 65 years old.
There have been 21 kid flu deaths countrywide, but none have occurred in Indiana.
Over the past week, influenza has caused 25,906 hospital admissions across the country.
The CDC predicts that at least 13 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 7,300 flu-related deaths have occurred so far this season. The hospitalization rate has increased in every season from 2010–2011 when it was observed the same period.
According to the CDC, children 0–4 years old have the greatest hospitalization rate, followed by people 65 and older.
The majority of states have high or very high levels of influenza-like disease activity as of Friday.
