The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting widespread flu activity in 46 states, including in New York.

The bug is especially bad in California, where 27 deaths have been linked to the flu.

Officials say this flu could be as bad as the 2014-2015 season, which was the most severe in years. The H3N2 virus is the main strain making people sick, and doctors say it's tough to fight.

"That strain of flu tends to change more rapidly than other strains, from the time we know it's circulating to the time the vaccine is made," says Dr. Sharon Welbel, of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. 

To make matters worse, some pharmacies are dealing with temporary shortages of flu medications due to demand.

The CDC says people can help limit the spread of the flu by washing hands often and disinfecting spots that are touched frequently.