The flu has already sickened an estimated 9.7 million people and killed 4,800 this season, according to a FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thirty-three states experienced high flu-like illness activity, six states experienced moderate activity and eight states experienced low activity for the week ending Jan. 4. New Hampshire experienced minimal activity.
Five pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC in the week ending Jan. 4, bringing the total count to 32 this season.
The total marks the highest death toll seen this early in the season since the CDC first started tracking flu data 17 years ago.
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