As we turn the calendar from 2019 to 2020, we find ourselves in the midst of the unofficial fifth season of the year (sixth if you count road construction) - flu season.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 45 states are reporting high to moderate influenza levels as of December 28.

That week alone, more than 47,000 samples were analyzed nationwide at clinical and public health laboratories with more than 13,000 (28%) of those testing positive for the flu virus.

This flu season there have been more than 65,000 confirmed influenza cases in the United States.

In all, 34 states are listed in the 'high' category.

South Dakota is one of nine states in the 'moderate' category.

The state Department of Health confirmed 420 cases of influenza A and B during the last week in December, including 19 cases that were severe enough to require hospitalization.

Since the beginning of the flu season, there have been 1,103 confirmed influenza cases in South Dakota, with 37 hospitalizations.

Up to this point, no flu related deaths have been reported in South Dakota.


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