Flu season comes early this year due to unexpected virus

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-season-comes-early-this-year-due-to-unexpected-virus-cdc-says/

By Audrey McNamara
December 7, 2019 / 10:46 AM

Flu season has come early this year due to a strain of the virus not typically seen during this time of year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC announced Friday there has already been an estimated 1.7 million flu illnesses, 16,000 hospitalizations, and 910 flu-related deaths this year in the United States, at a minimum.

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"Nationally, influenza B/Victoria viruses are the most commonly reported influenza viruses among children age 0-4 years (46% of reported viruses) and 5-24 years (60% of reported viruses)," reads the agency's website.

B/Victoria viruses are generally not dangerous to older people.

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"On an average year, 125-200 people a day die of the flu. So, this is preventable most of these deaths with the vaccine."

It is not too late to get vaccinated. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine is the best way to reduce risk from the potentially dangerous complications of the flu.