CAÑON CITY — A patient at St. Thomas More Hospital in Cañon City has died from flu-related complications, according to the hospital.
Hospital representatives said the patient was a senior citizen who passed away Friday.
Forty-five states are reporting widespread flu activity and the Center for Disease Control is estimating nearly 3,000 deaths.
Of those deaths, 27 of those are children.
The winter flu season in the United States can begin as early as October or November, according to the CDC, and can end as late as May.
The CDC says flu activity is being caused mostly by influenza B/Victoria viruses, which is unusual for this time of year.
This particular strain of viruses is hard on children and people younger than 50 years old.
The CDC says flu season is just getting started and elevated flu activity is expected to continue for weeks, so be sure to get your flu shot if you haven't yet.
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