In a typical season, about 100 children die of the flu, so it is
not known whether this year will be better or worse than usual.
So far, half of confirmed flu cases are in people 65 and older,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. This
year's season is earlier than normal and the dominant flu strain
is one that tends to make people sicker. The flu is widespread
in all states but Tennessee and Hawaii and is starting to ease
in some areas, the CDC said. Health officials say it's not too
late to get a flu shot to help protect against the flu.
Vaccinations are recommended for anyone 6 months or older. Last
week, the CDC said the flu again surpassed an "epidemic"
threshold, based on monitoring of deaths from flu and a frequent
complication, pneumonia. The flu epidemic happens every year and
officials say this year's vaccine is a good match for strains
that are going around. The government doesn't keep a running
tally of adult deaths from the flu, but estimates that it kills
about 24,000 people m