Georgia is one of roughly 20 states seeing a massive surge in flu cases this winter, many of them attributed to the so-called "super flu." Why it matters: An unprecedented rise in flu cases comes as other sicknesses — such as the "winter vomiting bug,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first reported the infection in 2016, but the spread of the infection has recently ramped up. Currently, there are 7,000 people in the U.S. with the illness and numbers are seemingly increasing rapidly. Here's what else to know:

So far this season, 29 people have died from the flu in Georgia, according to the latest numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health. DPH released their weekly flu update on Monday, which showed that seven people died from the flu during the week of Dec. 27. There were more than 500 hospitalizations from the flu reported that week alone.

Georgia health officials expect flu cases to rise​ as people return to work and class, and schools are doing what they can to prevent the spread.

The numbers aren’t just rising either; Georgia’s flu numbers are already quite high.

Vaccine urgings from Georgia public health and CDC follow reports that flu cases had increased by a third nationally for the week ending Dec. 27.