As the flu season began early in the United States, 15 children reportedly died from the virus, prompting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to declare a flu epidemic in the country.

The number of states all over the U.S. reporting that there are influenza-like cases in the area continue to rise from13 last week to 22 at present. Outbreaks have also been reported in every region of the U.S.

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As for hospitalizations, the highest rate account from children younger than four years old as well as senior citizens. According to reports, six children from Tennessee have already died from flu this year and that they are part of the outbreak category that was released by CDC. The East Tennessee Children's Hospital has had 442 children with flu just this December.

Chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser from ABC News has pointed out that since the strain of the virus this year is especially severe, people should still get shots in order to protect themselves. He adds that there is no better way to protect yourself and the people around you than to get the shot although doctors and scientists are saying that the shot this year does not match the virus strain.

More often than not, children and seniors are the ones most vulnerable to flu because they have a compromised immune system. Every year, at least 100 children die from the virus, Besser explained.

Back in 2010, flu season started around February. But from 2011 up to now, it has been starting earlier than the usual, Besser noted.

According to reports, the cases so far this year are those of the H3N2 subtype and that there are around 17 types of the H particles or the hemagglutinin, allowing the virus to bind the cells, nine types of the N particles or the neuraminidase, allowing the virus to spread the infection throughout the body.

Flu strains are named after the types of the particles. Dr. Pritish Tosh of the Mayo Clinic said the H3 subtypes have the most possibility of having large numbers of cases of hospitalizations and deaths.

TagsCDC, Flu, epidemic, dead children, flu season