Positive tests for the flu and related hospitalizations are gradually increasing, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest Maine CDC data, which covers the week ending Jan. 11, shows 541 positive cases and 60 hospitalizations across the state. 

There have been 165 hospitalizations for the total flu season.

This is the eighth straight week the state has seen a rise in cases and hospitalizations, according to the Maine CDC.

Influenza-associated deaths saw an increase, with the latest data finding four deaths. This brings the number of influenza-associated deaths this flu season to seven.

Outpatient health care visits related to flu or flulike illness also continues to rise. According to the Maine CDC, this number stands at 4.79%, a more than a 1 percent increase from the previous week, which saw 3.63%.

The Maine CDC says most counties are seeing a “sustained increase” in influenza. The only counties that didn’t see an increase were Hancock, Somerset and Washington County. Hancock County saw its numbers plateau, while Somerset and Washington were in the “sustained decease” range.