Flu Season 2014: Infections Spread Across the US Leaving Many Dead
Health experts are warning of a flu season that is starting earlier and which is already affecting a large portion of the country.
A report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the flu is actively being tracked in at least 35 states with no signs of slowing.
"We're in the thick of flu season," Lyn Finelli, a flu expert with the CDC, said the agency's weekly report shows. Finelli added that it is still too early to determine if the season has peaked or if it will continue to get worse.
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The number of people seeking medical care for the flu climbed to more than four percent of all doctor visits last week, which is nearly double from two weeks earlier.
Still, state health officials are revealing that incidents of flu infections are spreading and rising.
"The number of confirmed fatalities is rising rapidly and exceeds what is expected this time of year," said state epidemiologist Dr. Gil Chavez, of the California Department of Public Health in Sacramento.
Last year, 381,000 people were hospitalized and 171 children died in what had been described as a relatively severe season, according to CDC figures.
"These deaths serve as a stark reminder of what a serious illness flu can be and the importance of taking preventive measures," Dr. Joe Iser, chief health officer of the Southern Nevada Health District, told AP.
Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone six months and older, pregnant women and the elderly.
Health officials insist that it is not too late to get a flu vaccination and that flu season generally peaks in January or February, but it can continue well into spring.
Health experts also recommend washing your hands frequently and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough to slow the spread of germs.
