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Flu season peaks later than usualBy Manav Tanneeru  Emily Moore of Los Angeles County gives a flu shot. More than 80 million doses were distributed this year. SPECIAL REPORT
(CNN) -- This year's flu season is peaking at a time it's usually coming to an end, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flu season is typically most widespread from December to February, but it can begin as early as October and end as late as May. This year, seasonal flu started gathering steam in January and is only now reaching its peak. "Each influenza season is unique in and itself," said Tom Skinner, a CDC spokesman. "There really is no rhyme or reason as to why activity may peak sooner one year as opposed to another." The West and Midwest saw increased flu activity in January and February, and the virus has moved eastward over the past few weeks, Skinner said. Twenty-five states, most in the eastern half of the country, reported widespread flu activity for the week ending March 11, the latest figures available, according to the CDC. "I would still expect activity to the end of this month and into April but, as we get to the end of March and on into April, we should see a decline in activity," Skinner said. The flu kills about 36,000 people yearly in the United States and hospitalizes another 200,000, most of whom who are elderly, very young or are already suffering from another illness, according to the CDC. For most people, however, the flu simply brings misery, with symptoms including fever, headaches, fatigue, sore throat, body aches, diarrhea and vomiting. Vaccines and bird flu fearsProblems in the supply of flu vaccine that occurred last year didn't appear evident this year. About 86 million doses were distributed this year, meeting the demand of around 70 million to 75 million doses, the CDC said. In contrast, about 61 million doses were available last year. The system, however, was not without its flaws. "We had a lot of vaccine available to people, but there were some issues around the distribution of the vaccine and private providers being able to get the vaccine, and that's something that the pharmaceutical companies are going to work to address," Skinner said. The problems were related to the manufacturer Chiron, which produced less vaccine than anticipated, according to the CDC. As a result, some providers who ordered from Chiron had less vaccine on hand than they had ordered and anticipated, the CDC said. The same company had to close its plant in Britain in 2004 because of contamination, leaving the U.S. with only half of its anticipated supply for the 2004-05 flu season and delaying the start of production this year. Meanwhile, this year's seasonal flu has been overshadowed by fears over bird flu. No cases have been reported in the United States, though officials say it's possible some could appear this year. Health experts fear the H5N1 virus could mutate, allowing it to pass easily between humans and possibly triggering a pandemic. "I can't predict, but I certainly have to say that we should prepare for the possibility that at some point in the next few months, a wild fowl will come over the migratory pathway and will be infected with H5N1," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said March 9. Government officials unveiled plans this month to increase monitoring and screening of migratory birds that could bring the flu. The plans also call for an immediate quarantine around infected birds, humanely destroying them and disinfecting areas. "At this point, if you are a bird, it's a pandemic; if you are human being, it's not. It's as simple as that," said Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. "However, we are not excused from concern. While there is no evidence that the virus is passing from person to person, we do see this virus circulating in birds all over the world. "It is a highly lethal virus when it gets into human beings, and there is no human immunity." 
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