CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This year’s flu is getting worse. Novant Health has seen flu cases more than double in the last couple of weeks. The CDC says 7.5 million people have had the flu so far this year. More than 3,000 have died, including eight children. South Carolina is one of six states seeing the highest levels. The CDC recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine each season. But vaccination rates have been decreasing in recent years. “Influenza is preventable. People over the age of six months should consider vaccination. Vaccines can prevent infections like the flu, but also reducing the severity of the flu if you do get it. They’re not perfect. We know that. But they can make your infection less severe, which can be important,” says Novant Health Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. David Priest. Novant, Caromont and Atrium Health all have visitor restrictions in place because of the rise in respiratory illnesses. ...read more read less