At a Glance
An estimated 15 million have been stricken with the flu in the U.S. so far.
The virus has killed some 8,200 in the U.S. alone.
Youth flu deaths have more than doubled compared to last season.
While much of the world is focused on the coronavirus outbreak, influenza continues to take its toll in the United States, where an estimated 15 million people have been infected and 8,200 have died from the disease so far this flu season.
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said those numbers aren't unusually high, they're far higher than the 4,583 cases of coronavirus and 106 deaths confirmed worldwide as of Tuesday morning. Five people have been stricken with coronavirus in the U.S. and no deaths have been reported.
Overall, the World Health Organization estimates that the flu kills up to 650,000 people per year worldwide.
"When we think about the relative danger of this new coronavirus and influenza, there’s just no comparison," Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told USA Today. "Coronavirus will be a blip on the horizon in comparison. The risk is trivial."
CDC officials have also said there is currently little risk of catching coronavirus in the U.S.
(MORE: You Could Get the Flu Twice This Year, Experts Say)
Several schools in the U.S., and in some cases entire districts, have canceled classes in recent days due to a high percentage of students sick with the flu and other seasonal illnesses. Schools were closed Monday and Tuesday in Jefferson County, Tennessee, about 30 miles east of Knoxville, WBIR.com reported. Classes were canceled Friday and Monday in Union County, Tennessee, the report added.
In Ohio, the Zane Trace School District was closed Monday, according to the Chillicothe Gazette.
Zane Trace Superintendent Jerry Mowery told the newspaper on Monday that all activities and classes were canceled and school buildings were disinfected. Mowery estimated that about one in four students in the school system, about 40 miles south of Columbus, had the flu.
"We might be just a little under that, however, we seem to see it increasing in the last couple school days, Thursday to Friday and then today it's kind of hit our staff," he said. "It's rolling into our staff ... and we have it with our bus drivers, so we're getting into personnel."
The Ohio Department of Health reported 566 flu-related hospitalizations statewide in the week of Jan. 12 to Jan. 18, according to the Associated Press, compared to 303 hospitalizations during the same week a year ago.
Public health officials have said this year's flu season is unique because two strains of the virus – influenza B and influenza A – are spreading at almost equal rates.
(MORE: Fitbit Data Could Be Used to Track Flu Outbreaks, Researchers Say)
Influenza B was dominant at the beginning of the season. Since that particular strain doesn't affect older people as much, officials predicted there might be fewer flu deaths this year.
But that also means the flu has hit children especially hard.
At least 54 children have died of the flu this season, according to the CDC, compared to 22 pediatric deaths reported by this time last year. More than 50% of those who have tested positive for the flu have been under the age of 25.
Flu Insights with Watson helps people better assess and prepare for their flu risk, up to 15 days in advance, down to their ZIP code. Check your local risk in The Weather Channel app.
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