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Davis Hubb, 5, with help from his mother and a friend, gets a flu shot in Whitefish, Montana. | |
Early beginning, early end
An especially virulent strain of the flu virus spread across the United States during the winter of 2003-2004. Several states reported widespread outbreaks earlier than usual, prompting fears that the season would be especially severe and causing a rush on the vaccine. But by February 2004, influenza activity appeared to have peaked in the United States, with the number of states reporting cases dropping sharply, according to federal officials. As many as 36,000 people in the United States die each year of what's commonly known as the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 Activate Your E-mail Alert: Flu Season | CDC
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