Snapshot of flu epidemic across the U.S.

map United States, U.S., health, caduceus / AP

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Doctor: Flu traveling "like a chain letter, it's exponential"

Here is a snapshot of flu activity in all 50 states and the District of Columbia:

Alabama: Like many states, Alabama is having an earlier and busier flu season than a year ago — though not as bad as the 2009 pandemic. The state Department of Public Health doesn't tally statewide flu cases but emergency departments have been busy treating patients with flu symptoms. Hospitals have been able to handle the load without using tents or other unusual measures.

Alaska: Flu in Alaska is widespread and occurring throughout the state, though not at the high levels being reported in some other states. There is no vaccine shortage and no flu deaths have been reported in children.

Arizona: Flu cases are increasing in Arizona but authorities aren't calling it a worse-than-usual season so far. Plenty of vaccine remains. Like many states, Arizona only tallies flu deaths in children; none have been reported so far this season.

Arkansas: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that Arkansas is among a few states in the southeast in which flu cases spread less rapidly in the past week, but a state Health Department spokesman said it's too early to say cases have peaked there. Nine people have died from the flu so far in Arkansas, including one child,

California: Flu activity is on the rise in California, but the increase is not unexpected, state health officials said Friday. The nation's most populous state typically sees a surge in flu cases in late December or early January, peaking in February or March. Four flu-related deaths have been reported this year. Officials said there is no vaccine shortage and urged residents to get vaccinated.

Colorado: At least two children have died from flu-related complications in Colorado. Several providers have reported temporary vaccine shortages, and one large health group, Kaiser Permanente, stopped offering flu shots this week but expected to resume vaccinations with new shipments expected by this weekend.

Connecticut: There were 1,680 confirmed cases of flu in Connecticut as of Jan. 5, an increase over the past two years. Three flu deaths have occurred, all in people older than 65. Vaccine supplies are adequate.

Delaware: Flu activity is widespread in Delaware, and the number of cases is higher than at this time in recent years. No flu deaths have been reported and vaccine supplies are adequate.

District of Columbia: Washington, D.C. has seen a big spike in flu cases this year — 310 since the season began on Sept. 30, an increase of more than 300 percent over the entire 2011-2012 flu season. There have been no reported deaths. Health officials are still urging residents to get vaccinated, and there have been no reports of shortages.

Florida: Most Florida counties are reporting mild or moderate flu activity. There has been an increase in flu-like illness treated in emergency rooms and doctors' offices, and two children have died. Vaccine demand is up but flu shots are readily available.

Georgia: State authorities said Friday that flu has reached epidemic levels in Georgia. Although activity has declined a bit, it's uncertain if cases have peaked. Two adult, flu-related deaths, have been reported.

Hawaii: Flu in Hawaii is at a low, steady level normal for the state this time of year, and there is plenty of vaccine available. There have been no pediatric deaths or uptick in adult deaths related to the flu.

Idaho: In Idaho, eight older adults have died from flu-related illness and doctors are seeing an increase in patients with flu-like symptoms. "It's definitely shaping up to be a more serious flu season than we've seen in the past several years," said spokeswoman Nikki Forbing-Orr of Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare. There have been no runs on flu vaccine and the state's supply is in good shape.

18 Photos

Widespread flu found in 48 states

Illinois: Intensive care unit hospitalizations and flu-related deaths surpass previous years and continue to climb, with 27 adult deaths so far. Eight Chicago-area hospitals turned away ambulances earlier this week because of a surge of patients with flu-like symptoms but that situation eased. Chicago's health department encouraged vaccinations and held a flu chat Friday on Twitter; Mayor Rahm Emanuel tweeted a photo of himself holding a sign that said, "Any advice for people who shake a ton of hands? #FluChicago."

Indiana: Flu is widespread in Indiana and deaths have climbed to 15 during what health officials call a "moderately severe" flu season. During the same period last year, no flu deaths were reported; two years ago there were two deaths. During the pandemic of the 2009-2010 flu season, there were 21 deaths by this time of the year. Two of this season's deaths were in children younger than 18.

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Fact =Highest EVER flu related emergencies in the ER and guess what. Almost ALL had the flu shot. This is from a woman who works in the ER and a Fireman confirmed this for me. The more people get the shot the worse this is going to get.It is pure poison. You want to inject (formaldehyde) embalming fluid , mercury Also egg embryos and of coarse the newest flu strain from Asia which they think will hit us but have no idea. Ignorant is not doing the research and being aware of what really is happening. Neither me nor my family or friends have gotten the flu and guess what we avoid the shot like the plague . People getting the shot are becoming very sick . The long term effects are tremendous to your brain and organs. If people would stop smoking and eating fast food then they would also be healthier . And SO WHAT if we do get a flu once in a while. Do you realize how low the death toll is for flu deaths in the US???? Most are from pre existing health conditions and weak immune systems and flu used as lie to fuel the public into being scared. Worth risking your health to get shot. Not even close.

[victorpavlovic]

CBS NEWS wants drama as headlines, so they try to create a panic about the Flu, nothing new there as all networks are reporting the same thing, causing viewers to switch channels. If they really wanted real life drama they would report on a REAL EPIDEMIC caused by vaccines. Yes, the Flu shot doesn't work, and they cause an entire host of conditions and diseases, including the MMr it causes Autism in children and all other diseases for the most part. The vaccine court aka NVICP just awarded millions to the families of 2 children that got Autism as a result of the MMr vaccine, that according to the CDC can't happen.Anyone that trust the corrupt CDC has got to be out of their mind!

So true. When I try to tel people this they look at me like I am crazy and in the next sentence a lady who works in the ER tells me it is the highest rate of flu in the emergency she has seen and most got the flu shot.

This is the ponzi scam of the health industry. People are going to be kicking them selves years from now. Keeping people sick is a trillion dollar money maker.

[juliajobbook]

This is clearly no laughing matter. We should all be focusing on prevention rather than treatment. Here's an interesting article on how to prevent the outbreak in your work environment.
http://blog.jobbook.com/save-your-company-team-from-the-american-flu-outbreak/

Enjoy!

[hooplatido]

Why is Oklahoma not listed, but Ohio is listed twice?

[BadTripsSuck]

I blame a lot of these low wage jobs with horrible call in policies for some of the spreading. I work IT for ATT Wireless in Indiana and it just hit their call center hard. They can miss a total of 8 days a year, anything over 3 then they can't be promoted, plus if they miss over one then they don't get their bonus. Doctor's excuse doesn't help but I have heard of some trying for FMLA. I heard on thursday they have 13% of the people who worked there call in. I've noticed many of them that I can tell they are sick. I pretty much go in the building and go straight back to my office and stay there all day until this crap lets up.

[McLovin22]

Agreed! Our company used to give out perfect attendance awards. That all went out the window when H1N1 hit. Then they encouraged people, if they felt sick, to stay away!

But if a truly fatal flu pandemic hits people will stay at home afraid to go out else they might catch it too. No work = no money = no food. So the choice will be starve to death at home or risk going out to make money and get food and get sick.

[SpaceCoastVic2013]

I agree this is not a snapshot of flu activity across the US, but it is helpful information.

Flu can kill the weak and infirm. Don't take it lightly.

[jdavidsen]

This is not a snapshot. A snapshot would be a color-coded U.S. map showing what is happening in each state.

This is a 3-part epic. It is good and probably necessary, but it is not a snapshot.

[LouZerpa]

I believe this is all BS to extort people out off their hard earned money. These companies have been doing it for decades....

They engineer the damn viruses and then come up with miraculous ways to prevent it... BS

The Health Industry is nothing but a blood-sucking Industry!

[Justink1983xloo]

I'm sorry but how long has the flu been around again? Around a thousand years. I'm sorry but you really don't have a lot of faith in the world do you? People will believe anything

[Dont-poke-the-Bear]

I am new to the business... yet I have talked to a few funeral directors/owners, they are actually surprised in the "Big Rush" I mean it's always been the flu season this time of year, but never had it hit this hard before. The one thing I had noticed, when talking to the family, they would express that the elderly person in regards to was active and healthy until a week or two prior to their death. However the paperwork had been signed off as "natural causes" . I'm no doctor, but my inquisitive mind tells me that the numbers you are hearing from the media are possibly inaccurate. Therefore, we will never know the true dangers as long as the media down plays this epidemic that they are calling the "FLU"

With that said, how well do you trust your government? How dedicated are you to protect your own family, how passionate are you to support the Bill of Rights and the Second Amendment?

Don't rule out the fact that this could be possibly related....

[MarkusMagnus]

This is what happens when too many ignorant people refuse to get a flu shot...you put all of us at risk!

[Dont-poke-the-Bear]

FYI: all that mercury is not a miracle to the human body. Some people still get the flu after getting the shot. Also, the whooping cough, {Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly infectious disease that is spread by coughing and sneezing. It's caused by bacteria which damage the breathing tubes.} in addition to the Noroviruses which spreads easily, causing more than 20 million gastroenteritis cases each year in the U.S. There's no vaccine to prevent norovirus has no effect from the flu shot at all.
I am afraid you are not holding the correct ignorant group of people responsible for this break out.... Dig Deeper

Fact =Highest EVER flu related emergencies in the ER and guess what. Almost ALL had the flu shot. This is from a woman who works in the ER and a Fireman confirmed this for me. The more people get the shot the worse this is going to get.It is pure poison. You want to inject (formaldehyde) embalming fluid , mercury Also egg embryos and of coarse the newest flu strain from Asia which they think will hit us but have no idea. Ignorant is not doing the research and being aware of what really is happening. Neither me nor my family or friends have gotten the flu. People getting the shot are becoming very sick . The long term effects are tremendous to your brain and organs. If people what stop smoking and eating fast food then they would also be healthier . And SO WHAT if we do get a flu once in a while. Do you realize how low the death toll is for flu deaths in the US???? Worth risking your health to get shot. Not even close