The number of people who have died in the U.S. because of the flu has risen to more than 7,000.

The number of deaths in the United States has fallen to less than 6,000, down from more than 8,000 in 2009. The U.N. estimates the number of Americans who died from the flu in the first three months of this year will be at least 2,000 higher than in the same period last year. The death toll is expected to continue to rise as the flu season continues.