IN H1N1 deaths jump to 19 last week

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - State health officials say nine Indiana residents died last week from the H1N1 flu virus, a surge that's nearly doubled the state's H1N1 flu fatalities to 19 since June.

Health officials say hospitalization rates for influenza and pneumonia have risen 41 percent over the past three weeks as the current H1N1 flu outbreak continues.

Even though last week was by far the deadliest week for H1N1 flu in Indiana, health officials see some signs that the illness is easing in the state.

The state's weekly H1N1 flu report says emergency rooms saw a slight dip in influenza activity last week. And only nine Indiana schools reported absentee rates higher than 20 percent, while university health centers saw a decrease in H1N1 flu cases.