The worst of the flu season appears to be nearing an end according to health officials.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of states reporting intense or widespread flu dropped even more last week.  The downward trend started about four weeks ago.  Additionally, reported deaths from the flu have been steadily dropping for the last two weeks.

This year’s flu season started about a month earlier than it has in years past.  The outbreak began in the late fall, and the dominant strain is one that tends to make people sicker.  The CDC reported that this year’s outbreak has been the worst in nine years, and that year proved to be one of the deadliest in recorded history.

Officials have labeled this year’s outbreak as moderately severe.