A look at the 2003-2004 flu season

Overall, the flu hit people in the United States earlier than usual during the 2003-2004 flu season, and lab tests showed evidence of a strain of the virus that's typically associated with more severe seasons. Taking a cue from the flue season just ending, experts say it's not too early to make a note for this fall: vaccination is the best protection against the flu and can prevent many illnesses and deaths. Even for people who come down with the flu after vaccination, the illness is generally less severe than in people who didn't get vaccinated.