 Atlanta (CNN) -- The spread of the flu across the United States appears to have slowed in some areas, but officials won't know for weeks whether the cases have peaked, the CDC director said Friday. Twenty-four states and New York City reported high levels of flu-like illness, but that was down from 29 states and NYC the week before, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, flu is unpredictable and illness could rebound or worsen, said CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden. For the first time this season, deaths associated with the flu rose into the epidemic category, though just barely, CDC officials said. More than 3,700 people have been hospitalized for the flu since October, and 20 children have died, the CDC says. While the CDC does not count the number of adult deaths related to the flu, some states do, and that data suggests dozens have died. In New York City, 57-year-old Judith Quinones skipped getting a flu shot this season and suffered her worst case of flu-like illness in years. The number of states reporting widespread activity, however, increased to 47 from 41, according to the CDC's flu advisory report. Flu activity was elevated all across the U.S., except in the far west region that includes Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii and Nevada, the new report showed. "Really, only the next week or two will show whether we have, in fact, crossed the peak," Frieden told reporters in a conference call. "It's still on the uptick," he said. Also, the flu's early arrival coincided with spikes in a variety of other viruses, including a childhood malady that mimics flu and a new norovirus that causes vomiting and diarrhea, or what is commonly known as "stomach flu." This year's vaccines appear to be about 55 percent effective against influenza A strains, which are responsible for most illness and more severe cases, and about 70 percent effective against influenza B, which is usually less serious, the report showed. It looks bad in part because last year was unusually mild and because the main strain of influenza circulating this year tends to make people sicker and really lay them low. Hospitals in Hampton Roads are urging patients... (Associated Press) 
 
 Vials of flu vaccine are displayed at Philly Flu Shots on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 in Philadelphia. Flu season in the U.S. has struck early and,... (Associated Press) 
 
 Physician assistants Scott Fillman, left and Andrew Hunadi meet with patients, not pictured, in a tent set up for a people with flu symptoms, just outside the emergency entrance at the Lehigh Valley Hospital... (Associated Press) 
 
 Flu season in the U.S. has struck early and, in many places, hard. On Wednesday, Boston declared a public health emergency, with the city's hospitals counting about 1,500 emergency room visits since December by people with flu-like symptoms. Flu vaccinations are recommended for everyone 6 months or older. To deal with the influx and protect other patients from getting sick, hospitals are restricting visits from children, requiring family members to wear masks and banning anyone with flu symptoms from maternity wards. The number of flu-related deaths elsewhere, according to state health officials: 
 
 -- Pennsylvania has had 22 deaths. That helps explain why some people who've received flu shots -- which are recommended for everyone older than six months -- say they've still gotten sick. ___ 
 
 AP Medical Writer Maria Cheng in London contributed to this report.
– The CDC rolled out a mix of good news/bad news on this year's flu outbreak today: The bad: The number of states reporting widespread activity rose from 41 to 47 over the week. The far West (Arizona, California, Nevada, Guam, and Hawaii) has largely escaped the brunt of it so far, reports NBC News. The good: The number of states reporting high levels of the illness fell from 29 to 24, suggesting that it's on the wane in some areas. (Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Kentucky saw the decreases.) Deaths: So far, 20 victims under the age of 18 have died, reports CNN. More than 3,700 people, most of them elderly, have been hospitalized. Shots: This year's vaccine appears to be about 62% effective, a decent mark. Severe year? It may seem that way, explains AP, because this year's flu started early and is unusually rough on those who get it. Plus, last year was a mild one for comparison's sake. But we probably won't know until spring how this year's sickness stacks up. "Bottom line: It's flu season," says the CDC chief. Flu activity is up in most of the country, and "it may be decreasing in some areas, but that's hard to predict," he says. "Influenza activity ebbs and flows."