Cold and flu season is in full swing. As the months get colder and folks are indoors more often, these respiratory illnesses often spread in close quarters. Flu activity begins to increase in October and often peaks between December and February,

Outpatient health care visits for flu-like illnesses are at their highest levels in 15 years, according to data updated Friday by the CDC.

Despite the severity of this flu season, vaccination rates have remained consistent with previous years, according to the CDC.