ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota health officials say four more people have died of flu-related illness.

The Minnesota Department of Health said Thursday the four deaths confirmed last week bring the season's death toll to 180. Last year's flu season claimed 33 lives.  Since October, nearly 3,000 people have been hospitalized in Minnesota in one of the toughest flu seasons in many years. Last year, the flu caused about 550 hospitalizations.

Health officials say one nursing home reported a flu outbreak in week of March 10-16, bringing the number of outbreaks in long-term care facilities to 149 since the start of the season. Four schools reported flu outbreaks last week. So far about 490 schools have reported outbreaks during this season.

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