Fifth child dies of flu in Minnesota

A fifth child has died of influenza this season, Minnesota Department of Health officials said Thursday.

But state health officials noted that the state's flu outbreak tapered considerably in recent weeks and continues to wind down.

According to new flu statistics released Thursday, that flu hospitalizations, clinic visits and long-term care outbreaks all decreased in Minnesota from the previous week.

"Our peak activity for the season happened right at the end of 2014, probably the last couple weeks," Epidemiologist Karen Martin said. "And that activity has gone down significantly, but there still is influenza out there."

However, Martin said there are still many localized outbreaks reported in communities, schools and long-term care facilities. Northeastern and northwestern Minnesota have a slightly higher percentage of positive flu test results than other parts of the state.

But there is still time to obtain the flu vaccine, she said, because flu can circulate well into May.

"It's winding down, but I've gotten the question, 'Well, is it too late to get vaccinated? Do we need to worry about it?'" Martin said. "And absolutely it's not too late, particularly because we're starting to see another strain circulating — influenza B — which the vaccine will provide better protection for."