Widespread flu kills at least 26 kids in U.S.: CDC

A "nasty" flu virus is now widespread in the United States, killing at least 26 children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Friday.

The CDC said in a weekly update that high levels of flu activity were reported in 46 U.S. states for the week ending Jan. 3, up from 43 states during the previous week.

"It appears that we're right in the middle of flu season this year," CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a teleconference. "But it's too soon to say whether we've peaked."

According to the CDC, a U.S. flu season lasts about 13 weeks on average and the country is now about seven weeks in.

The predominant circulating strain this season is H3N2, which Frieden called "a nastier flu virus" than other flu viruses.

Hospitalization rates among people 65 years and older "are rising sharply," going from 52 per 100,000 the previous week to 92 per 100,000, he said.

The last H3N2 season was in 2012-13 and the cumulative hospitalization rate for older people by the end of that season reached 183 per 100,000.

"We wouldn't be surprised to see something similar happening this year," the CDC chief said.

Five children died from the flu during the last full week, bringing the total flu deaths to 26 this season, he said, noting the actual number of deaths may be "even higher" based on past investigations.

Even worse, about two-thirds of H3N2 viruses analyzed this season are different from the H3N2 virus that's included in this year's flu vaccine, he said.

That means protection with vaccination against this season's H3N2 viruses will probably be reduced.

Despite that possibility, Frieden continued to urge people to get vaccinated, especially children younger than two years and adults aged 65 years and older.

"Vaccinations may still offer some protection and there are other strains of flu out there as well," he explained. Endi