Flu approaching peak levels in U.S.

Influenza in the U.S. is approaching peak levels, says Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist Dr. Pritish Tosh.

“We are seeing a fairly dramatic increase in the amount of influenza in parts of the country, and likely will be hitting epidemic levels soon,” Tosh says. “Already in the U. S., we are above the baseline for influenza-like illness.”

Tosh says it’s not too late to get your influenza vaccine — even if you’ve already had the flu — because there are more influenza strains circulating. “You may have been infected with the H3N2 strain that is circulating right now, but there are influenza B strains that also are circulating,” says Tosh. “If people have not been vaccinated, they should certainly do so before the peak of influenza gets into their area.”