MEXICO: In the past week, to continue a particularly dangerous flu season, 11 more lives have been claimed in Oklahoma due to the influenza virus.
This number takes the overall number of influenza-related deaths in the state to 58, the Charlotte Observer reports. Even that number, so large compared to most U.S. states, is small compared to the 1,400 others who have been hospitalized since flue season began on September 28th. These numbers are quite high, and may even surpass the death toll brought to the state by last flu season.
As expected, most of the victims tended to be older. Of the people who have died, 53 were 65 or older, while eight fell into the 50 to 64 age range. Two of the victims were aged 18 to 49, three were between the ages 5 to 17, and two were younger than 4. Out of every county in Oklahoma, Tulsa has seen the worst of the outbreak, with 12 people in the county falling victim to the disease. Oklahoma and Garfield counties come next with five deaths each, and Stephens County has seen four. Both Comanche and Tillman County had three, while Jackson County has had one.
Oklahoma first began recording deaths caused by the flu in 2009, when a then-record 46 people died. That record was broken last flu season, when the virus claimed 61 lives across the state. In response to the spreading virus, the Department of Health has a full, in depth breakdown of the hospitalizations and deaths on their website.
