ATLANTA — As we head into the peak of the winter holiday season, more than a dozen states now are reporting high flu activity.

Georgia is now among them. The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention flu surveillance shows 14 states reporting high or very high flu activity.

This week, two more children died from the flu bring the total to three this year.

It’s estimated that at least 49,000 people have ended up in the hospital and 1,900 have died from influenza.

Nearly 90% of the cases belong to the subclade K, which is a newly emerged subgroup of the seasonal flu virus called H3N2 influenza.

It is a virus also being called a super flu.

The CDC recommends following these tips to avoid getting the flu:

1. Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too. Putting physical distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
2. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you’re sick. You can go back to your normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true:
1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
2. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication 1). After these two criteria are met, there are some additional precautions that can be taken to protect others from respiratory illness.
3. Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Influenza viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. Wearing a mask is an additional prevention strategy that you can choose to do to further protect yourself and others. When worn by a person with an infection, masks reduce the spread of the virus to others. Masks can also protect wearers from breathing in infectious particles from people around them.
4. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
1. Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
6. Take steps for cleaner air. You can improve air quality by bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or gathering outdoors. Cleaner air can reduce the risk of exposure to viruses.
7. Practice good hygiene and other healthy habits. Cleaning frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, handrails, and doorknobs regularly can help prevent the spread of some illnesses. Also, get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.