The South Dakota Department of Health says influenza activity in the state is now considered “widespread” for the first time this season. Doctor Lon Kightlinger is the state epidemiologist. He says the flu bug started to spike in late February….
He says it’s unusual to see the numbers climb this late in the winter….
Kightlinger says he expects the flu numbers to dwindle as we get toward spring, but there’s no guarantee that’ll happen….
Kighlinger says there have been three influenza-related deaths in South Dakota this season, compared to 63 last winter.