Almost 3,000 KILLED and 6.5 million sick with the flu already in one of the worst seasons in decades

THE US is on track to have one of its worst flu seasons ever, with thousands having died from the illness and millions more infected.

Nearly 3,000 Americans are estimated to have died from the infectious disease, 800 more deaths than predicted just a week before, CNN reported.

The 2019-20 season is on par with 2017-18, which was the most fatal in more than 40 years, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention warned.

Since October the virus has infected at least 6.4 million people and caused 55,000 hospitalizations, the CDC estimates.

The strains circulating this year have proved particularly dangerous for children - with 27 deaths reported through December 28, according to the news outlet.

That's the highest number of fatalities at this point since the CDC began keeping track nearly 20 years ago.

Children are particularly susceptible to influenza B, the dominant strain this season.

In comparison, most adults have built up an immunity to flu B strains over their lifetime, having encountered the strains earlier in life.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, believes the spike in flu activity could reverse itself soon and hopefully lead to a not-so-severe season.

"Hopefully this turns around and comes down, but if it continues on the trajectory it's on, it's not going to be good," he told CNN.

"The only thing predictable about the flu is that it's unpredictable."

The estimates that influenza has resulted between 9 million and 45 million illnesses and between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths annually in the past decade.

Though flu season is in full swing, the public health agency advises everyone older than six months to get a flu shot.