'Widespread' Flu Activity In South Dakota

The nation's experiencing the worst influenza outbreak it's seen in years and South Dakota is not immune.

The state is now seeing "widespread" flu activity, which means it's affecting people across the state. Nearly 2,800 South Dakotans have tested positive for influenza, 135 have been hospitalized and the state is reporting nine flu-related deaths. But even those numbers don't tell the whole story.

Every brown state on the map below has widespread influenza activity. The dark yellow states, which include South Dakota, show regional activity.

But State Epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger says the state is now officially in the widespread category and that the agency's newest map actually contains outdated information.

"That's because the hospitals and all the clinics and schools report to us. They report this week what happened to them last week,” Kightlinger said.

That information is then sent to the Centers for Disease Control, which will update the map below on Friday.

The map below is from the Center of Disease Control's website: