Flu 'gathering speed' across US as health officials

CNN) US health officials are becoming increasingly concerned about this year's flu season -- and are already seeing signs that the virus is spreading.

As the 2022-23 flu season gets underway, one high school in California is facing a "high number of absences" among students due to possible flu cases. Flu activity in the United States often starts to increase in October and usually peaks between December and February.

"We can confirm that there is a high number of absences at Henry High School due to probable Influenza," Samer Naji, a spokesperson for the San Diego Unified School District, said in an email to CNN on Thursday. There were about 1,000 absences Wednesday, out of 2,600 students.