The flu this year isn’t just controlling our social lives, but the schools systems, hospitals, workplaces, and, now,  our rights to live.

As the 2017-2018 flu season spreads across 49 U.S. states, we can attribute the casualties of over 30 children alone to this deadly strain of the virus that may be more harmful than it looks.

Being only 30% effective this year, the flu shot is still considered necessary by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as they discuss the benefits of taking precautions regardless, stating, “Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even into January or later.”

Though doctors across the nation can agree it’s not yet considered a full blown pandemic, the virus has definitely taken a toll on the population, closing thousands of public and private schools across the country in hopes to put a halt to the airborne contagion.

At least a dozen states so far have had school closings of one day or more due to the rapid spread, and the numbers are continuing to grow.

Junior Isabelle Crocco of The Gunnery in Washington Connecticut recalls her school’s experience with the flu, explaining, “We were supposed to have a closed weekend where you can’t leave campus, but because of the flu spreading throughout the entire school, for the first time in my Gunn career we didn’t have any classes or programming or anything.”

However spontaneous school closings isn’t the only surprise the virus has thrown at us this year.

What’s particularly unusual about this is the virus hitting the majority of its victims at the same time.

“We often see different parts of the country light up at different times, but for the past three weeks, the entire country has been experiencing lots of flu all at the same time,” says Dan Jernigan, the CDC’s flu chief. An activity chart for the flu in the month of January accurately conveys this statement, showing intense activity within 75% of the nation as 2018 begins.

Baby boomers, in particular, have been hit hard– having the second highest hospitalization rate after the elderly. Scientists say this is most likely due to their lack of exposure to the virus as adolescents, and, therefore, they should take intense precautions this season.

These precautions pertain to all of us, really. The CDC’s website suggests we stay as far as six feet away from affected persons and wash our hands constantly to prevent spreading.

As for now, we can only hope that those of who were able to receive the flu shot in time and/or those of who have not yet been affected will steer clear of the nasty affect the virus has had over our personal health, and the function of the public.