The Indiana State Department of Health reports two additional flu-related deaths in the state, bringing the total to 70 deaths.

Five of those deaths came in individuals under 18 years of age. Health department officials said 64 of the 70 deaths happened in cases in which the deceased had an underlying medical condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases.

Flu season generally runs from October through May. Even though the flu season is nearing its end, health officials are still urging Hoosiers to follow good hygiene habits to prevent further spread.

“Although we are nearing the end of flu season, it’s not over yet and there’s still a very real risk of becoming ill with influenza,” said State Health Commissioner William VanNess, M.D. “Your best defense at this point is to continue to be diligent with hand washing. Severe flu seasons, such as this one, demonstrate the importance of getting vaccinated each and every year and as early in the season as possible.”

Flu symptoms include cough, fever, sore throat and body aches. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact a doctor. Anyone over the age of 65 are more prone to potentially fatal flu complications and should seek treatment quickly, doctors said.

The State Health Department has issued a statement following the Centers for Control and Prevention’s ruling about the effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine.

Last week he CDC ruled the vaccines are only 56 percent effective overall.  For those 65 and older, though, the vaccine has been only 9 percent effective.

“The new information about the effectiveness of this season’s flu vaccine might seem discouraging, but it’s important to note that getting the flu vaccine can significantly reduce hospitalizations and deaths, even if it doesn’t protect from flu in all cases,” the state health commissioner said in a statement Friday.

So far, 61 Hoosiers have died from flu-related complications.

By Ashley Hayes

(CNN) — This year’s flu vaccine was less effective than officials previously thought, particularly for the elderly, said officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials have said the worst may be over and flu cases are declining. The 2012-13 flu season began in December, much earlier than usual, and was more severe than last year’s.

That particularly was true for those 65 or older, according to a CDC report Thursday. The vaccine was 9% effective in protecting people in that age group.

“One possible explanation for this is that some older people did not mount an effective immune response to the H3N2 component of this season’s vaccine,” the report said. “However, it’s not possible to say that for sure.”

An H3N2 flu strain has been the most dominant and has been especially hard on the elderly.

Among those over 65, 146 per 100,000 were hospitalized for the flu virus, compared with a rate of 30 per 100,000 last year, the CDC said.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC’s director, said this month in a congressional hearing that about twice as many elderly people have been hospitalized with flu symptoms than in recent years. That includes the 2007-08 and 2003-04 seasons, which also saw a predominant H3N2 strain.

“It seems that this year’s flu vaccine is not nearly as effective as we would like among people over the age of 65 for one particular strain of flu,” Frieden said Thursday. “That’s why early treatment is so important.”

Officials maintained, however, that those 65 and older should be vaccinated yearly, for reasons including that this population is at high risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from the flu.

“This flu season has been worse than average and particularly severe for the elderly,” Frieden said. “Although it’s far from perfect, flu vaccination is by far the best tool we have to protect from the flu.”

Authorities earlier had said the flu vaccine was 62% effective for adults and children. In the Thursday report, the CDC revised that to 56%.

The new number, the agency said, is “not significantly different” and continues to fall within the confidence interval established earlier. But the lower number includes an additional three weeks of data and was adjusted for various factors, including age and race or ethnicity.

“Both estimates indicate moderate vaccine effectiveness in preventing outpatient medical visits due to circulating flu viruses in most of the population,” the report said.

In addition, while this year’s vaccine was considered a good match for the most common circulating flu viruses, it only provided 47% protection against H3N2, the main virus.

“We simply need a better vaccine against influenza, one that works better and lasts longer,” Frieden said. The Department of Health and Human Services as well as the private sector are working on such a project, he said.

In addition, less than half of school-age children — the population mainly responsible for spreading the flu virus — got the flu shot, experts said. The CDC recommends the vaccine for those 6 months of age and older.

According to the latest numbers released Friday by the CDC, “influenza activity remained elevated in the United States, but decreased in most areas.”

CNN’s Trisha Henry contributed to this report.

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Four additional Hoosiers have died from flu-related complications, the Indiana State Health Department announced Wednesday.

Health officials said flu deaths increased to 56. A majority of the flu-related deaths involved people who had underlying medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma. The department said two counties now have five or more deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been closely monitoring the flu season, which started earlier than usual and quickly became more severe. Several states, including Indiana, had flu outbreaks.

Symptoms of influenza include: high fever, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches and sore throat. Health officials encourage anyone experiencing these symptoms to contact their health care provider.

The CDC recommends everyone six months old and older get vaccinated. If you haven’t gotten an annual flu vaccine, it’s not too late, doctors say. To further protect yourself, try to avoid anyone who is sneezing and coughing, and wash your hands.

Five more people have died from the flu, according to the Indiana State Health Department.

Health officials said flu deaths increased to 52, up five from last week. The latest deaths included one person over 65, one person under 18, and three people between the ages of 25 and 64.

Health officials said a majority of the flu-related deaths involved people who had underlying medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes or asthma. The department said two counties now have five or more deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been closely monitoring the flu season, which started earlier than usual and quickly became more severe. Several states, including Indiana, had flu outbreaks.

Symptoms of influenza include: high fever, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches and sore throat. Health officials encourage anyone experiencing these symptoms to contact their health care provider.

The CDC recommends everyone six months old and older get vaccinated. If you haven’t gotten an annual flu vaccine, it’s not too late, doctors say. To further protect yourself, try to avoid anyone who is sneezing and coughing, and wash your hands.

Three additional people have died in connection with the flu outbreak, said officials with the Indiana State Department of Health Wednesday.

A total of 47 people Indiana have now died due to flu-related illnesses.

Health officials said a majority of the deceased individuals had underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma and renal disease.  A large majority of the deaths were people older than 65 years old.

State health officials told Fox59 the flu deaths do not appear to be concentrated in any single corner of the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this year’s flu season began earlier than usual and quickly became severe, with outbreaks reported nationwide.

Symptoms of influenza include: high fever, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle aches and sore throat. Health officials encourage anyone experiencing these symptoms to contact their health care provider.

The CDC recommends everyone six months old and older get vaccinated. If you haven’t gotten an annual flu vaccine, it’s not too late, doctors say. To further protect yourself, try to avoid anyone who is sneezing and coughing, and wash your hands.

Marion County hospitals will lift visitor restrictions that were implemented in January due to widespread flu activity.

The Marion County Public Health Department announced Wednesday that regular hospital visitation policies would resume on Friday, Feb. 8.  The announcement comes as health officials said flu activity has decreased.

The restrictions were implemented on Jan. 18 after flu activity reached its highest levels since 2009.

“Over the past two weeks, flu activity in Marion County has leveled off and then dropped significantly,” said Dr. Virginia Caine, who recommended the policies be put in place.  “Even though hospital visitor restrictions will be lifted, it is important to remember that flu season does not end until April 1. Everyone must continue to protect themselves and others against the flu, such as good hand washing and covering a cough. Also, it’s not too late to get a flu shot.”

From Jan. 27 to Feb. 2, health officials reported Marion Co. hospitals reported 401 ER visits for influenza-like illnesses.  The previous week, hospitals reported 490 emergency visits.

“The implementation of the county-wide visitor restriction policy over the past three weeks has been a perfect example of hospitals coming together to improve outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Charles Miramonti, chairman, Indianapolis Coalition for Patient Safety. “The success of this joint effort, along with the mandatory flu vaccines that several hospital systems enacted this past fall, has helped to prevent the spread of the flu from reaching a critical point.”

As of Monday, a total of 44 people in Indiana have died due to flu-related illnesses.

Health officials said a majority of the deceased individuals had underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma and renal disease.  A large majority of the deaths were people older than 65 years old.

State health officials say they believe the flu season has peaked and now, they’re meeting to decide when they will lift hospital restrictions put in place a few weeks ago.

Right now, hospitals still aren’t allowing many visitors for flu patients. People under 18 can’t make visits without special arrangements and only immediate family members, partners, or significant others can go in to the rooms.

So far, 44 Hoosiers have died.