Another death connected with influenza has been reported in Newfoundland and Labrador in the midst of a mid-February spike in confirmed cases of the illness.

According to the Department of Health’s most recent report on influenza, one person died during the week of February 16 to 22. That brings the total number of deaths so far this year to three.

During that week, the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu surged to 65, over double the amount from the week before at 32. The total number of confirmed cases this year increased to 279—above the five-year average for this point in the season.

The province’s youth have been hit hard, as the Department of Health says 47 per cent of cases were noted in people under 20 years old.

The Department stresses the importance of getting a flu shot. About 40 per cent of patients did not receive an immunization, while 50 per cent had an unknown immunization status.