US witnesses 1900 flu deaths so far this season, reveals CDC data as cases surge across the country

Flu activity in the US has increased and is leading to a surge in cases. So far this season, 1900 deaths, 49,000 hospitalizations and 4.6 million flu cases have been reported, as per December 19 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The emergency room has been busy, and we've been following these numbers," Dr. Darien Sutton, a board-certified emergency medical physician and ABC News medical correspondent, told "Good Morning America". "Just a note, national numbers typically lag during the holiday, but state health department numbers are giving us insight to just how severe this flu season is." New York state is reporting the highest number of flu cases it has ever recorded in a single week. A total of 71,123 flu cases were reported for the week ending Dec. 20, according to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This marks the highest number of flu cases in a single week since it became mandatory for states to report in 2004. This season, of the 163 samples of H3N2 collected since 28 September and genetically characterized, 89% were subclade K, according to the CDC. CDC recommends getting a flu vaccination to everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. The health agency notes on its website that getting an annual flu shot prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctors' visits every year and is especially important for those at higher risk of serious complications.