Low vaccination rates may also be contributing to this year’s sick season. As of late January, U.S. vaccine uptake was well below the CDC’s target of 70% coverage, with only about 44% of U.S. adults and children vaccinated. That’s on par with recent seasons for adults, but lower than normal for kids.

If you’re feeling under the weather but brushing it off as just a cold, you might consider taking a flu test.

New York is experiencing its most severe flu season in at least 15 years based on the number of hospitalized people who have tested positive. Nationally, hospitalizations of influenza patients are at the second-highest level for the same period,