Flu kills 25 in US state of Oklahoma

The U.S. state of Oklahoma on Thursday reported two new flu-related deaths last week, bringing the total deaths this season to 25. The weekly flu report by the Oklahoma State Department of Health issued Thursday showed 862 hospitalizations in the state since the start of the flu season in September. The latest two deaths were reported in the state's Nowata and Washington counties. Tusla County leads the state in both flu-related deaths and hospitalizations, with six deaths and 258 hospitalizations reported. The current flu season hit the U.S. earlier and harder than previous seasons. At its peak, 48 out of 50 U.S. states reported widespread flu activity. Nonetheless, latest reports said the flu season appears to be winding down. As of Feb. 2, the percentage of people visiting the doctor for flu-like illness in the country was 3.6 percent, down from 4.2 percent for the week ending Jan. 26, according to the latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nineteen states were reporting high levels of flu activity for the same period, down from 24 states the week before, the CDC said. Meanwhile, 13 states were reporting low levels of flu activity, up from four states the week before.