Flu hospitalizations in Minnesota continue to rise

The latest flu data released by the Minnesota Department of Health shows a continued rise in people hospitalized due to the flu and a higher rate of positive flu tests.

The data for the week ending Nov. 26 saw 355 hospitalizations compared to 319 the week prior. In total, 1,147 people have been hospitalized this flu season which is more than the entire 2021-2022 flu season.

The percentage of positive flu tests ticked up to 35.4%, up six points from the week prior.

An additional 10 people died from the flu that week, bringing the death total this flu season to 19.

The new school outbreaks dipped down significantly; however, many schools had a short week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

142 new school outbreaks were recorded for week 47 compared to 240 for week 46. A school is considered to have an outbreak if 5% of the total enrollment is out sick due to having the flu or flu-like illness or if three or more students are absent from an elementary classroom with the flu or flu-like symptoms.

Outbreaks at long-term care facilities went up. Seven new outbreaks were reported compared to three the week prior.

In good news, RSV cases continued to go down for two data weeks in a row.