PORTLAND, Maine (AP)   Maine health officials have confirmed the first influenza death of the 2018-2019 flu season.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports a person died from influenza during the week ending Dec. 22. The person, whose name was not released, was over 65 and lived in Hancock County.

So far there have been 17 hospitalizations and 168 confirmed cases this season. A year ago there had been 99 hospitalizations and 373 cases at the same point.

Last season 82 died from the flu in Maine, making it the deadliest year for the flu in decades.

Across the country about 80,000 people died in the United States during the 2017-18 flu season.