There has been a dramatic increase in the number of influenza deaths in Oklahoma. In just the last week, 13 people have died from the flu and another 288 people have been hospitalized.
The death toll from the flu jumped to 22 this season (since October 1st). Most of the deaths have been in people over 65 years old. One child, under four, has died and one person between 18-and-49 years old.
Exact ages and circumstances are not released because of federal privacy laws. We can report that two of the deaths this flu season have been in Tulsa County.
State health officials encourage people to get a flu shot. While the vaccine will not necessarily prevent the flu, it should lessen the impact and speed up recovery time.