An early and severe start to the flu season has many health
experts concerned. On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention reported 47 states are experiencing widespread
activity, although it appears to be decreasing in some areas.
According to the CDC, this is the most flu cases they've seen at
this time of year in more than a decade. Twenty pediatric flu-
related deaths have occurred since the start of the season. The
CDC does not track adult flu-related deaths. The peak of the
season, which usually happens in February, may be yet to come
for most states -- officials said Friday it may be a week or two
before it becomes clear whether cases have peaked. Here are some
common flu questions from readers answered: Why is this year's
flu causing more severe cases? The type of flu that is going
around is called Influenza A (H3N2), which is often linked to
more serious diseases than other flu varieties, Dr. Anthony
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases at the Nati