Two more flu deaths in Minnesota bring total to 70

The Minnesota Department of Health reported two more flu-related deaths Wednesday, one in December connected to H1N1 and one in March resulting from influenza B.

They bring the total number of flu deaths in Minnesota to 70 since the H1N1 pandemic began last April.

Of those, 61 were linked to the H1N1 virus, four could not be typed, three had no testing done, and one, the most recent, was influenza B.

In its weekly flu update, the department reported no new outbreaks in schools and no hospitalizations.

There is often a lag between a death and confirmation that it was flu-related because of the complex investigation and testing required by some cases, health officials said.

Josephine Marcotty