OKLAHOMA CITY,OK. (AP) - The Oklahoma State Department of Health is reporting a third death in the state since January 1st due to influenza.

The department's website on Thursday said the latest death was a Comanche County resident during the week of March 4th through 10th and that the victim was a minor under eighteen years old.

The previous two deaths were in mid-February with both persons in the 19-64 age range.

The department says there have been 186 people hospitalized due to the flu since January 1st.

The department reports that during the same time frame last year there were nearly 800 people hospitalized due to the flu and about two dozen flu-related deaths.

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