CDC documents flu outbreak in 36 states

The winter flu season has started early across the United States this year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting widespread outbreaks of influenza across 36 states.

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The flu virus usually hits it peak in February, and the early onset of the disease is being attributed to this year’s flu vaccine only being 10 to 33% effective against the strain currently going around, as well as the frigid current weather across the country.

USA Today is reporting more than 30 deaths have been caused by the flu so far this season.

Between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths are caused by the flu virus each year, according to CDC data. So far this year, deaths have occurred in California, Arizona, Delaware, North Carolina and South Carolina, among a handful of others.

Despite cases across the country, epidemiologists say it’s too early to tell whether this will be a bad year for the flu, as flu activity tends to peak in February.