This year's flu season is striking earlier than last year's, with the virus already widespread in 29 of the 54 U.S. states and territories, the CDC said Friday, NBC News reported. At this time last year, the aches- and mucus-inducing illness was only widespread in four of the 54 states and territories. Eleven children have already died this year from the flu, the CDC said. Federal health officials warned earlier this month that the influenza virus circulating in the U.S. has mutated and that this year's vaccine doesn't provide much protection. Click here to see the CDC's state-by-state breakdown of flu in the U.S.
