People fight flu outbreak across the country

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Story Created: Jan 10, 2013 at 12:43 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jan 10, 2013 at 1:24 PM CDT

The flu has been rearing its ugly head not just here in Nebraska, but across the country including the city of Boston, Massachusetts declaring a state of emergency.

So are you doing anything special to avoid getting sick?

Local grocery stores have been offering customers the option of using special wipes to clean off shopping carts for a while now.

But the number of people you actually see use them will most likely go up throughout what could be a very bad flu season.

News 5 caught up with one woman at Russ's in Hastings who said she tries to use them as often as possible.

"I think it is mostly because the kids like to chew on the cart. It's kind of gross, but at the same time it does not replace washing your hands," said Kira Darling.

More than 80 percent of the United States has now felt the power of the flu just this season alone.

So far, 18 children have died nationwide from the flu since October.

Here in Nebraska a Lancaster county child is the second victim. A 60 year old man died in December also in Lancaster County.

And more than 460 influenza and pneumonia deaths have been reported so far across Kansas.

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