Flu reaches epidemic level in US

A woman takes the flu shot in a local hospital

A Reuters report today quotes the US Centre for Diseases Control (CDC) as saying that 7.3 per cent of all deaths reported in the United States last week were as a result of pneumonia and the flu.
"That is above the epidemic threshold of 7.2 percent, CDC said. Nine of the 10 regions of the United States had "elevated" flu activity, confirming that seasonal flu has spread across the country and reached high levels several weeks before the usual time of late January or February," the report states.
According to Huffingtonpost.com, 47 out of the 50 states are now reporting 'widespread' activity.
Experts recommend the vaccine for everyone over 6 months of age. Even if it does not prevent flu, it can reduce the severity of the illness, preventing pneumonia and other life-threatening results of flu.