FACT OR MYTH

Chicken soup will cure your flu and cold.

FACT  We had to call this one a fact, at fear of raising the wrath of mothers everywhere. While you can't flush the flu or cold out of your system, it is helpful to drink plenty of liquids while ill. So: if your chicken soup is mostly a good chicken broth, it could help loosen your congestion and it will prevent dehydration. There is a good chance you could accomplish the same thing by drinking water, but who are we to argue with moms? Oh! And avoid caffeine (it dehydrates you), as does alcohol.

Flu-Like Illness Activity as of the Week of January 8, 2012
At this point in the winter season, the overall national flu-like illness activity is High Moderate.   This is consistent with last year's flu season pattern, in that we are in the midst of the crescendo of increased flu-like activities across the country. The expectation is that it will peak in February, if the current trend continues.

Flu-like activities are High in the state of Nevada.  Other states with High activity include Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts.  The Lowest flu-like activities are showing in Wyoming and South Dakota.  The remaining states are in varying degrees of Moderate flu-like activities.