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A second flu death this season reported in Monroe County

The Monroe County Health Department has reported the second death related to the flu this season.

The first one was reported last October, and involved a child under 4 years old.

The latest death was revealed in a weekly reportfrom the health department which said the death involved someone between 75 and 84 years old.

The number of lab confirmed cases rose to 1,538 as of January 11 compared to 272 confirmed cases a year ago.

Local health officials told WXXI's Brett Dahlberg earlier this monththat there's something unusual in this year's flu season. Influenza A, the strain of the virus that's typically most common at this point in the year, is instead proving rare in the Rochester area, and influenza B, which often waits for later months to strike, is responsible for the vast majority of recent cases. 

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.