CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hospitals and doctors' offices across the nation are filled with sick children or parents seeking vaccines for their kids. Dennis Edwards from CNN affiliate WJZ checked out one Baltimore emergency room.</s>DENNIS EDWARDS, CNN AFFILIATE WJZ REPORTER (voice-over): The flu is sweeping the country faster and earlier than anyone remembers. In one week alone, infections jumped from 13 states to 24. It's a potentially deadly trend that's filling Maryland emergency rooms with very young and older patients.</s>DR. LAURA PIMENTAL, MERCY MEDICAL EMERGENCY ROOM: And then this week, we have just had almost an avalanche of patients who have shown up with flu-like symptoms.</s>EDWARDS: So far this year, there are 235 confirmed flu cases in Maryland. That's compared to 147 over last year's entire season. The problem, doctors say, is the virus strain that's not covered by the current vaccine -- a strain that adds insult to injury by causing worse diseases. But those who benefit from the vaccine are having a hard time getting it. (on camera): With the vaccine shortage, some state health officials are urging healthy people between the ages of 5 and 49 to consider using the vaccine in a mist form. (voice-over): Health agencies in Frederick, Montgomery and Washington Counties ran out of injectible influenza vaccine earlier this week. Health officials are now moving dwindling supplies to the hardest-hit areas. Valerie Spell (ph) brought her daughter to Mercy Medical Center at the first sign of the flu.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was more concerned about her having the flu or, you know, her asthma coming along, because she's always been admitted here.
Flu Packs Baltimore Emergency Rooms