The CDC said the flu is at the highest level that Georgia measures, and it has spread like wildfire over the last week.
The state says the flu is now widespread in Georgia.
The CDC released a flu map that shows Georgia is in red, and it’s been that way for the last two weeks. Channel 2 Action News checked last year’s map and Georgia never hit that level.
Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach talked to the state director of health who said they track flu activity on a scale of 1 to 10 and we're already at a 10.
The state said there's still time to get a flu shot. State health officials say the strain of virus their seeing has mutated a bit from when the vaccines were created. But the flu shot can still help.
"Probably make it shorter in duration, and less severe. So we still recommend, even now, if people have not been immunized, to get their immunizations,” O’Neal said.
Doctors urges kids especially to get the flu shot.
The largest number of cases have been in children and young adults.
Georgia has had five flu deaths this year, but those have all been patients over 60 and all with some other medical issues putting them at higher risk.
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