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Oklahoma Influenza Deaths Reach Record Levels

Kat Masback
/
Creative Commons

Oklahoma health officials say 14 people have died from influenza in the state during the past week, bringing the state's death toll this flu season to a record 82.

The state Department of Health said Thursday more than 1,700 people have been hospitalized with flu-related symptoms since the season began on Sept. 28, including 76 hospitalizations recorded within the past week.

Health officials say more deaths and hospitalizations have been recorded during the current flu season than in any year since the 2009-2010 season, the first year the Health Department began keeping track of the statistic.

The previous death toll from flu was 72 recorded during the 2013-2014 flu season. State health officials say the previous record for flu-related hospitalizations was about 1,300, also set during the previous flu season.

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