A severe strain of the flu has hit hard across the U.S., with approximately 18 children dead and more than 2,000 people struck by the flu strain, with Chicago seeing a large spike in cases.
Only days after the CDC reported that influenza activity was peaking across the country, Chicago hospitals are having difficulty keeping up with the influx of flu cases.
"We've been extremely busy," said Dr. David Zich, an emergency care physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "I started seeing [flu cases] about three or four weeks ago and after a week or two I was saying already it was one of the worst flu seasons I've seen in like 12 years."
Northwestern is reporting more than 20 percent increases in flu cases each day.
As the Illinois Department of Health reports, Northwestern and six other Chicago hospitals--who are at capacity--are redirecting flu patients to other hospitals in the area.
But Illinois isn't the only state seeing a spike in flu cases.
Over the last four weeks, CDC tracking reports indicate that the flu cases across the U.S. have sharply doubled from 2.8 percent to 5.6 percent over the last four weeks. That marks a 3.4 percent spike from last year's flu cases peak at 2.2 percent.
Twenty-nine states and New York City are now reporting high levels of influenza-like-illness and another nine states are reporting moderate levels of flu cases.
California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wisconsin are still reporting low or minimal flu cases, according to the CDC. The District of Columbia and 2 states did not have enough information to calculate an activity level.
"We would expect this year's flu season will be more severe than last year, but how severe it's too early to say," said Tom Skinner, spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to WECT.com.
The flu strain H3N2, Skinner said, has been the most common flu strain appearing this season. "In years past when we have seen an H3N2 dominate, we tend to see more severe illness in young kids and the elderly," he added.
With the spike in flu cases, Skinner was advising everyone six months old and older to get vaccinated for the flu.
For people who begin showing signs of fever, cough, fatigue, head and body aches, and runny nose, the CDC recommends to get treated for the flu as soon as possible regardless of vaccination status or rapid test results.
Signs and symptoms of flu (Source: CDC.GOV)
People with the flu can show some or all of these symptoms:
Fever* or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue (very tired).
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
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