"The coughing illness", or "ILI - influenza-like illness" seems to be what has manifested in the area I live in.  Quite likely it is simply being labeled "the flu" which it is not.  Without a proper lab test confirming influenza, doctors are speculating when they should be testing these cases for confirmation of influenza.  Also, in my home town in Manitoba, it is not unusual for seniors in care homes to get very ill and pass on at this time of year even though they are given the flu shot.