Seven more children died of the flu this week, bringing the total number of child deaths to 37 this flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday.
The flu has been particularly bad this year, with levels of activity similar to the 2014-2015 season, also a bad year, Dr. Dan Jernigan, director of the Influenza Division at the CDC, said on a call with reporters.
“It has been a tough flu season so far this year,” Jernigan said.
{mosads}Flu activity remains high in most of the country, he said, while noting that it appears to have peaked in some areas.
The country is about halfway through the flu season at this point, he said.
Officials recommend hand-washing and getting a flu shot. The very young, very old, pregnant women and people with underlying conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of the flu. People not in those groups do not necessarily need to see a doctor for treatment if they get the flu, Jernigan said, but added that they might need to if they experience shortness of breath or other more severe symptoms.