Some U.S.hospitals are overwhelmed in states with high rates of flu

Flu activity remains high in most regions of the U.S. as a winter wave of respiratory illness sweeps across the country. The post-holiday surge in flu cases and hospitalizations is straining many hospitals, leading to overflowing emergency rooms and prompting some facilities to limit patient visitors.

This trend is expected to continue for the several more weeks, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its latest FluView weekly surveillance report for the week ending Jan. 11.

At least 33 states and Washington, D.C., are reporting high or very high levels of influenza-like illness activity, per the CDC's most recent data.

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