The South Dakota Department of Health reports three more flu-related deaths in the state in the past week.

That brings the seasonal total to nine. There have been five deaths in Minnehaha County, and one each in Brown, Fall River, Lincoln and Meade Counties.

The Department’s Dr. Joshua Clayton says flu activity in the state is widespread, with more than 1,300 new cases in the past week….

“We seem to be right in the thick of it right now in terms of the number of cases that we’re seeing. It will be interesting over the next couple of weeks to identify when we peak.

But historically, over the past 30 to 40 years, we’ve typically peaked for influenza season in February.”

There have been nearly 500 flu-related hospitalizations in South Dakota this winter.

Dr. Clayton says it’s not too late to get a flu shot.