3 Tulsa County Residents Die From Flu, Health Officials Say

The Tulsa Health Department announced Thursday three people in Tulsa County have died from the flu since the beginning of December.

Madison Thomas, an epidemiologist with THD, said this flu season has been less severe because of all the precautions people are taking due to COVID-19.

That being said, 149 Oklahomans have been hospitalized statewide since September because of the flu. 45 of them were Tulsa County residents.

The Tulsa Health Department is encouraging everyone get a flu shot.

So far, they have administered 10,000 flu vaccines in the county this flu season.

Thomas said making sure as many people possible are protected against the flu is important to keep flu-related hospitalizations down during the pandemic.

"If we have less individuals getting the flu, that's less individuals who could develop severe illness and need to be hospitalized, that lessens the burden on the healthcare system, that's already over-burdened due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Thomas.

Last flu season, 85 Oklahomans died and nearly 3,600 were hospitalized because of severe symptoms.