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Medical experts say this year's flu strain is more infectious, making it easier to go from person to person.
The flu virus is moving from the southeast to the west coast with the peak flu season in California in February.
You still have time for a flu shot before you catch the bug, which may bring on stronger symptoms than last year's flu.
California Department of Health Director, Dr. Ron Chapman said, "The flu is really severe body aches, muscle aches, joint aches, a fever, high fever, sometimes people develop a cough, sometimes people end up with a pneumonia so bad that they end up getting hospitalized."
If you plan to get the flu shot, get it soon because it takes about two weeks to start working.