Flu Season Off to Deadly Start in WI
Tuesday, December 4, 2012 - 9:48am
AP
MADISON - State health officials say the flu season is off to an early and deadly start in Wisconsin. The Division of Public Health says four flu-related deaths have been reported and 26 people have been hospitalized.
State epidemiologist Tom Haupt says in the last two to three flu seasons, no flu-related hospitalizations were reported before January.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says 113 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases were reported statewide between Oct. 5 and Friday, compared with seven cases at this time last year.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's the earliest flu season in nearly a decade.