AMERICANS APPEAR TO BE MORE SCARED OF FLU VIRUS THAN GUNS

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MSM BREAKING! Flu EPIDEMIC Panic (PSYOPS OF COURSE)Flu activity in United States earlier and more severe (Video)

Alina Pastoriza Garcia, ARNP-NP-C, administers a flu vaccination to Russell Waddey at the CVS pharmacy's MinuteClinic on December 4, 2012 in Miami, Florida.

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Joe Raedle/Getty Images

• BY: CHARLES SIMMINS

The Flu Vaccine: Fact & FictionThe Flu Vaccine: Fact & Fiction

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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the latest data on influenza in the United States on Jan. 4. The FluView report for week 52, ending Dec. 29, 2012, reveals a very early onset for the annual flu outbreak and signs that it will exceed the severity of other, recent seasons. Eighteen children have died from the flu or flu-related complications since the beginning of theinfluenza season on Oct. 1.

Physician visits for influenza-like illnesses(ILI) in outpatient settings continue to climb nationally. The CDC estimates that 5.6 percent of all such visits were for an ILI. The rate has nearly reached the peak rate for the 2007-2008 flu season, which the CDC characterizes as "moderately severe". This surge in ILI visits comes two months earlier than the peaks in prior seasons, excluding the 2009-2010 pandemic.High ILI activity was reported in 29 states and in New York City. Influenza was characterized as "widespread" in 41 states, the highest level in the CDC surveillance methodology. TheMortality Reporting System found that 7 percent of all deaths during week 52 were due to pneumonia or influenza. While the rate is above the national baseline, it remains below the epidemic threshold of 7.1 percent.

Influenza A (H3N2) remains the predominant flu strain nationally, followed by influenza Bviruses. Two additional children were reported to have died in this week's information, bringing the national total to 18.

California remains the least affected by the influenza outbreak to date. The state department of health did upgrade the flu activity level to "regional". Outpatient ILI activity remained low, at 1.8 percent of all visits.

In contrast, Texas reports an ILI rate of 11.93 percent. The state department of health reports that RSV, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus infections are equally common in the state at this time. The flu season coincides with widespread illnesses due to other respiratory viruses with similar symptoms.