RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there have been at least 7.5 million flu cases so far this season, leading to 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths.

“This subclade K variant of the flu that’s been circulating this year is spreading very, very efficiently, and hospitalizations are increasing,” said Dr. Stephanie Widmer, an ABC News Medical Correspondent who works as an attending physician.

“Flu activity has picked up and is being seen earlier on in this season, and with some symptoms being more aggressive,” added Dr. Michael Ruzek, the Chief Quality Officer at Cape Fear Valley Health System. Last week, Cape Fear Valley Health instituted new visitor policies after an increase in respiratory illnesses.

Data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) shows hospitalizations for flu-like illness have increased for nine straight weeks across North Carolina. Updated figures were not publicly released last week because of the Christmas holiday, but are set to be shared Wednesday.

“We’re seeing the spike a little earlier than we typically see. It’s a pretty sharp spike, quite significant over a short period of time,” Ruzek said.

The CDC lists North Carolina as one of 20 states with “very high” flu-like activity.

“Take flu symptoms seriously. Protect yourself and others and seek care early on if symptoms worsen. If you have symptoms and you are sick, just be cognizant of that and be cognizant of family members or friends that may be more vulnerable to the flu and to those symptoms, such as elderly family members, children and individuals who are immunocompromised (and those who are) pregnant,” said Ruzek.

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“Even if you are perfectly healthy, we know the flu can still affect you. There are other people in your family, probably who it can really affect, who might be immunocompromised, might be 65 or older, might be less than six months, (or) have a newborn in the family. Those people are going to be a lot harder to protect, and that’s why we need to protect not just ourselves, but our loved ones,” added Eric Stein, who works with advocacy group Families Fighting Flu.

Stein’s family helped start the nonprofit following the death of Stein’s sister Jessica from the flu. At the time of her passing, Jessica was 4 years old, and Eric was 2 years old.

“I think about what life could have been like with my older sister. It is really sad that I don’t really know my older sister like that. I have two younger siblings who never met her. They just hear about her in stories or see pictures of her on the wall,” said Stein.

Doctors say much of the surge is attributed to a subvariant known as subclade K.

“When speaking about the flu shot, it may not be a perfect match for subclade K., but again, it really works where it counts. It decreases hospitalization, death and severe illness,” said Widmer.

Other steps, such as washing hands, wearing a mask, and staying home if you’re not feeling well, can help slow the spread.

“If you are experiencing very severe symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, if you’re too weak to walk or to take care of yourself, if you can’t hold down food, if you’re vomiting uncontrollably, then it’s really important to seek emergency medical care,” said Widmer.

“I tell everybody, trust your own body. If something’s wrong, you know it’s wrong, then you’re probably right because you know what you’re feeling like all the time. Go get tested,” Stein added.

According to a WakeMed spokesperson, there were 1,590 positive flu tests and 81 hospital admissions between Dec. 22 and Dec. 29. During the same time period last year, there were 615 positive flu tests and 34 hospital admissions.

Across UNC Hospitals, a spokesperson said there were 465 flu cases detected for the week ending Dec. 27, a figure nearly 10 times higher than the number of cases (47) detected for the week ending Dec. 6.

“It really can affect people our age. I’ve seen it firsthand, and I know other people personally who have been affected and are now living with serious permanent complications due to the flu that they never even thought was (possible),” Stein said.

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