ST. PAUL — Minnesota is inching closer to 200 flu deaths this season.

The state Department of Health said four more influenza-related deaths were confirmed last week. That brings Minnesota’s influenza death toll to 194 since the season started in October.

The number of people hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza was down to four last week. Since the start of the season, 3,067 people have been hospitalized, but the weekly rate has sharply dropped off since peaking in January.