Experts Say It’s Too Soon to Predict the Flu Season

The U.S. influenza season is starting slowly, but it is still too early to tell how severe the outbreak will be as the nation faces a vaccine shortage, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Texas and New York have reported some localized outbreaks, and sporadic cases have turned up in some other states, Dr. Julie Gerberding said at the American Public Health Assn.’s annual conference in Washington.

No states have widespread activity; some states have reported no flu cases.

“We’re not getting off to a fast start,” Gerberding said. “I’m not making any predictions.”