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At Least 11 Flu Deaths Reported in Tenn.

cdc.gov

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP/TNS/WMOT) —  At least 9 mid-state residents have died from complications of the flu virus so far this season and health officials are urging more people to get flu vaccinations.

The Tennessean reports nine people in Middle Tennessee have died while two deaths have been reported in the Cumberland region. The Tennessee Department of Health is investigating other reports that have not yet been confirmed.

Tim Jones with the Tennessee Department of Health says the primary strain they're seeing this year is the H-1-N-1 virus that emerged during the 2009 and 2010 pandemic.

“One of the things that we noticed during the pandemic was that this strain tends to more severely effect slightly younger folks, so of middle-aged adults. That doesn’t mean tha the rest of us are off the hook -- it just means that the risk is sort of spread out more.”

Jones says the H-1-N-1 strain is among those covered with this year's flu vaccine. It is recommended for everyone ages six months and older.