December 30, 2010
CDC: Flu season picks up, cases widespread in Ga.
Anonymous Associated Press Thu Dec 30, 2010, 04:58 PM EST
ATLANTA — Flu season appears to be picking up.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says five states had widespread reports of flu last week, up from zero two weeks earlier.
A CDC report released Thursday says four of the states were in the South — Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Virginia. The other was New York.
The report also says that tests of about 120 virus samples show the circulating flu strains seem to be well-matched to this season’s flu vaccine.
Health officials say an estimated 23,600 flu-related deaths occur each year.
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Online:
CDC report: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/