California continues to report widespread cases of the flu, possibly because of a late start to an otherwise mild season, health experts said.
State health officials said that while influenza often peaks in January and February, it is not unusual to see influenza in April and May.
Health experts use the term "widespread" when flu cases are being seen in half the state.
Still, the vaccine appeared to match well with flu strains found in California, though three children died statewide this year. Residents in other states haven't been so lucky.
"It was a slower start, but we also have been very successful in vaccinating people, and the vaccine is a better match," said Gil Chavez, epidemiologist for the state's public health department.
Chavez cautioned that even a few cases can still spread if residents don't remember to wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough.
"The most important thing with influenza is to never predict," said Alicia Fry, medical epidemiologist with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It's a flu year that is still puttering along."
This season's vaccine matched three of four strains, but experts also noticed that in some cases, flu germs were resistant to the most common antiviral treatment, Tamiflu.
Last year, the CDC released new recommendations for children from 6 months to 18 years, especially those attending school, to receive the flu shot.
About 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu in any given year. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from complications and about 36,000 people die, according to health experts.
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