Health Officials: Oklahoma Flu Deaths Jump From 9 To 22

<p>The number of flu-related deaths in Oklahoma has more than doubled from a week ago.</p>

Thursday, January 8th 2015, 12:18 pm

By: News On 6

Health Officials: Oklahoma Flu Deaths Jump From 9 To 22

The number of flu-related deaths in Oklahoma has more than doubled from a week ago.

In numbers released Thursday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, 22 people have now died since the current flu season began last fall. A week ago, the number of flu deaths stood at nine.

12/31/2014 Related Story: Number Of Oklahoma Flu-Related Deaths Up To Nine

The OSDH says six of the 22 flu-related deaths have occurred in eastern Oklahoma. Tulsa County and Rogers County have each recorded two influenza deaths between December 28, 2014 and January 4, 2015. Muskogee and Washington counties each have had one death due to the flu for the same time period.

The first death of a child in the state has been reported in Oklahoma County. The Oklahoma City-County Health Department reported Thursday that the child is 4 years old or younger.

The OSDH influenza statistics show 805 people in Oklahoma have been hospitalized since the end of September 2014. That is up about 300 new cases since December 23, according to the report.

Other Oklahoma counties with flu-related deaths include: