The health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned against the severe threats of this flu season, saying it is at the midway point and is gradually shaping up to transform into a difficult one.

While addressing a press conference in Atlanta on Friday, CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden cautioned against the flu activities and said that this season has been mainly bad for those people who were 65 and older.

According to Frieden, 26 people have lost their lives this flu season with five deaths of children.

The figures only include the last reported figures by the CDC.

Health experts believe the deaths this year are higher compared to previous years because of the delays in reporting.

Frieden has advises the doctors and other medical professionals to follow all the instructions issued by the CDC while treating a flu patient. He also recommended the doctors to use anti-viral medications to treat the conditions.

According to the CDC head, the anti-viral drugs are found to be dramatically under prescribed and have the potential to prevent thousands of hospitalizations as well as cut the number of deaths.

Frieden also recommended flu shots or vaccinations against flu.

Meanwhile, health experts say this year the flu shot is not perfectly matched for the virus that mutated. But vaccination is the best way to stay protected against the diseases.

Among the high risk group for flu include children, pregnant women and the elderly people, according to the CDC.