Earlier flu season expected



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(NBC News) The school was closed for children from at least one Michigan district Friday, apparently because too many children and teachers were sick.

Cases are also beginning to appear in other parts of the country.

"Already this year, the number of cases has increased by just a few weeks compared to normal," said Dr. Buddy Creech of Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Doctors insist that it's time to get the flu shot.

The vaccine is not perfect. You can still get sick, but studies have shown that the vaccine can reduce the severity of the disease and prevent deaths from the flu.

Just over a third of adults were vaccinated against the flu last year and it was one of the worst seasons in their history. 80,000 influenza-related deaths and 900,000 hospitalizations were reported.

Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration has recently approved a new drug to treat the flu. Doctors say that Xofluza works with a single dose.

Xofluza will cost $ 150, although the price can be lowered to $ 30 with insurance.

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