Flu season is strong: 40 states say there is a lot of sickness.

Many Americans got sick with the flu during the holidays. The flu was very common in 40 states, according to health experts.

There are other illnesses that cause similar symptoms to the flu. These include COVID-19 and RSV, which can be serious for babies and older people.

However, the flu virus seems to be causing more sickness than other germs right now. Hospitals are seeing a lot of sick children, especially with both RSV and the flu.

It's hard to say yet if this flu season will be worse than others. Experts recommend getting a flu shot every year to protect yourself.

You can also avoid getting sick by washing your hands often and staying away from sick people. Health officials are also watching for other illnesses, like norovirus and bird flu.