You could have the flu right now thanks to the uptick in virus activity

The flu is digging its merciless claws across the U.S. as the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reported widespread flu in 30 states, affecting the West Coast the most as well as the Mid-Atlantic states.

According to the CDC, there have been an estimated 3.7 million flu cases so far this season and 32,000 of them required hospitalization.



Almost 2,000 people have died including 19 children.

Image via flickr

Four antiviral medications are available which include Tamiflu and Xofluza. Each have been shown to be effective against 99 percent of flu viruses tested.

Most are getting ill from a strain called B/Victoria which usually does not make itself known until the end of flu season, tending to affect children and young adults more often.