CDC: Nasty flu season has peaked, is retreating

NEW YORK (AP) -- This winter's nasty flu season has peaked and is clearly retreating, a new government report shows.<br /> <br /> "There's a lot of flu season left, but it's clear we're decreasing and that flu season has peaked," said Dr. Michael Jhung of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<br /> <br /> Flu illnesses were at their highest levels around New Year's Day, Jhung said. The CDC released the new flu numbers Friday.<br /> <br /> The flu bug spreading across the nation this winter is a type that tends to hit the elderly especially hard. Worse, the flu vaccine isn't working very well against the strain that is making most people sick.<br /> <br /> Health officials have said since last fall that this season would be unusually severe. They proved correct, by at least one measure: Flu-related hospitalizations of the elderly are the highest since the government started tracking them nine years ago.<br /> <br /> About 217 out of every 100,000 people 65 and older have been hospitalized with flu-related illness. The previous record was 183 per 100,000 two years ago.<br /> <br /> So far, the flu has played a part in the deaths of 80 children. On average, about 100 children die from the flu each year.<br /> <br /> Last week, flu was widespread in 32 states, down from 40 the week before. Flu-related doctor's office visits were high in 15 states, down from 26 states the week before.<br /> <br /> Among infectious diseases, flu is considered one of the nation's leading killers. CDC estimates 24,000 Americans die each flu season, on average.

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