US flu season off to an early start

The U.S. flu season began unusually early and is intensifying, with seven states reporting high activity last week, up from two the week before, the CDC said. More than 3% of doctors’ office visits were for flu-like illness. Louisiana has seen the strongest activity so far. The CDC estimates flu has caused at least 2.6 million illnesses, 36,000 hospitalizations and 2,100 deaths this season.