CDC says flu season has not reached peak

ATLANTA – The flu season has yet to reach its peak, despite a drop-off in cases in some states, health officials warned Tuesday.

At least five states – Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Washington and West Virginia – no longer have widespread outbreaks of flu, but 42 others, including Maine, still do, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

The flu season in the United States got off to an unusually early and harsh start, raising fears that this could be one of the deadliest seasons in years, especially among children.

“If you look at overall data from nationwide surveillance, it doesn’t look like it’s peaked yet,” said Dr. Scott Harper, a CDC flu expert.

Child deaths from the flu also are increasing, Harper said. The CDC said it would not release details on such deaths until Thursday. But late last month, the agency said 42 children had died from the flu, about half of them under the age of 5. About 92 children under age 5 typically die each flu season, according to the CDC.