CDC: Flu Activity Highest Of Season; 15 Dead In Georgia

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Ken McCarty, center, and his wife Martha Anne, right, talk to Dr. Anthony Marchetti while being treated for the flu at Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston, Ga., Friday, Feb. 9, 2018. / AP

A new flu activity summary from the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that flu activity is the highest it has been all season.

Influenza-like illness is expected to continue for several weeks, the report states.

In Georgia, 15 people have died of influenza since the start of flu season.

To be confirmed as a as influenza-associated death, the person must have a clinically compatible illness, a positive influenza test and no documented recovery between the illness and death.

The latest death was reported during the first week of February, the state health department shows. During that same week, 6.3 percent of doctor visits were due to influenza-like illness such as fever, sore throat and cough.

Illness increased in late December, and remained elevated through early February, the CDC said.

RELATED: New Report Shows How Ready Georgia Is For Public Health Emergencies

Health officials continue to encourage everyone over the age of 6 months to get vaccinated against influenza. A recent report on Georgia's readiness to handle public health emergencies critisized the state for having lower vaccinations numbers than the national average.

In 2018, Georgia dealt with an unusually high flu season for which 38.7 percent of the population was vaccinated. That’s below the national average of 42 percent.