Health officials say the number of flu-related deaths in Indiana this season has doubled to 50 as of the first week of 2018.
The Indiana State Department of Health says in its weekly influenza report that 36 of the deaths occurred among people age 65 or older. Ten other deaths have occurred in the 50 to 64 age group, three in the 25 to 49 age group and one in the 5 to 24 age group.
The report says flu activity is widespread across the state.
Several Indiana hospitals have taken precautions to prevent the spread of the flu. They include barring visitors showing flu symptoms and those other than immediate family or other significant persons.
