ST. PAUL — Flu-related deaths continue to rise in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 33 more flu-related deaths, raising the state’s death toll this season to 60.

Since the start of the flu season, more than 1,800 people have been hospitalized in Minnesota with confirmed influenza.

Health officials said 476 people were hospitalized in Minnesota with confirmed influenza last week. But the Health Department said there’s nothing unusual about the situation.

Kris Ehresmann, the department’s infectious disease director, said that while flu numbers are much higher than recent seasons, that’s also a reflection on how mild recent flu seasons have been in comparison.