Health Official: Rapid City Hit Hard with Flu

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The Department of Health says as the flu season begins, Rapid City is coughing and aching worse than any other South Dakota city.

The Rapid City Journal reports that health officials have recorded 131 cases of influenza in the state as of Dec. 14, with a disproportionate number in Rapid City.

State epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger says seasonal flu outbreaks usually began in either Rapid City or Sioux Falls before spreading across the state.

There has been only one death in South Dakota this season. Kightlinger says that person died in Minnehaha County in October and was in their 70s.

Health officials say 38 people died last season, and all but four were older than 65.

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