Flu Activity Now Widespread Across Montana

Montana Public Radio | By Maxine Speier

Published February 5, 2019 at 5:45 PM MST

Newly reported influenza cases in Montana as of Jan. 26, 2019.

Flu season in Montana is getting worse. The state health department reports nearly 500 new cases were counted last week. That’s about 150 more cases than the previous week.

That brings the state’s total number of flu cases this season to about 1,500. And with cases in all but five of Montana’s counties, flu activity is now considered widespread across the state.

So far this season, there have been 75 hospitalizations and two deaths from influenza. That’s a higher number of flu-related hospitalizations than the health department observed at this time in the last few years.

Last season, the state reported 79 deaths attributed to influenza.

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Maxine Speier

Maxine is the All Things Considered host and reporter for MTPR. She got her start at MTPR as a Montana News intern. She has also worked at KUNC in Northern Colorado and for Pacific Standard magazine as an editorial fellow covering wildfire and the environment.
Maxine graduated from the University of Montana with a master's degree in natural resource journalism and has a degree in creative writing from Vassar College. When she’s not behind the microphone you can find Maxine skiing, hiking with her not-so-well-behaved dogs, or lost in a book.

See stories by Maxine Speier

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