LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Get a flu shot! That’s the message from health experts who say this is the earliest start to a flu season in about a decade.

Not only has the flu season arrived early, but it’s also severe, affecting more people and covering a wider geographical area.

Nearly 30 states are now reporting high flu-like activity, up from 16 a week ago.

The flu epidemic is moving west across the country, according to health officials.

Christina Pascucci has the latest on the spread of the virus.