Flu cases spread through Washington region

An early and unusually strong flu season has caused a spike in flu-related illnesses in the Washington region, with feverish, sneezing residents rushing to their nearest emergency room.

In Maryland, more infected residents have gone to the emergency room with the flu already this year than during all of last year’s flu season, which peaks in January and February. More than 2,300 of the 50,680 visitors to the state’s emergency rooms have been diagnosed with influenzalike illnesses. Hospitals in the District reported 310 confirmed cases, according to data from the D.C. Health Department.