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CDC: Fewer flu cases than usual reported so far in 2015

Posted at 8:11 PM, Oct 23, 2015
and last updated 2015-10-23 20:11:23-04

The number of people seeking care for flu-like illnesses so far this year is slightly lower than usual, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday.

They recommended getting a flu shot before cases of the illness likely begin increasing during peak flu season in late December-early January.

For the week ending Oct. 17, the CDC reported 1.4 percent of Americans had seen a healthcare professional for "influenza-like illness." That number is down from the national baseline number of 2.1 percent at the same point in previous years.

All 50 states "experienced minimal [flu] activity," during the week measured, according to the CDC.

So far this flu season, 109.4 million influenza vaccine doses have been distributed in the United States, according to the CDC. A total of 147.8 million doses were distributed during the 2014 flu season — the second-highest number since 1980.