About this episode:

There's a lot of flu out there right now, but just how bad is it and by what measures is it "bad"? In today's episode: How this year's flu season stacks up against years past, some factors that could be driving such high rates and severe disease, and how bird flu is further complicating things. Also: It's not too late to get a flu shot!

Guests:

Dr. Erica Prochaska is a pediatric infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, the largest center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Show links and related content:

• U.S. facing worst flu season since 2009, experts say—Axios

• The flu has killed 16,000 people this season. These are the states with the worst outbreaks—Fast Company

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