Sneezing, coughing, fevers and people out sick from school or work for one reason or another. All signs that something is going on.

That “something,” according to the Centers for Disease Control, is an outbreak of influenza, or the flu, that came earlier this year and is producing more cases of infection than in recent less active seasons.

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden reported on Jan. 11 that 47 states reported widespread geographic influenza activity, up from 41 the week before.