Major Flu Outbreak Could Slow US Economy Further

Boston Declares Flu An Emergency A Boeing 787 Dreamliner experienced brake problems today, with CNBC's Larry Kudlow; and Boston's Mayor is declaring this year's flu season and public health emergency, with Alysha Palumbo, NECN.

This particularly devastating flu season started five weeks earlier than usual and caught many people off guard. Flu season usually peaks in late January or early February but by November the flu was already severe and widespread in some parts of the South and Southeast, and now in the Northeast and Midwest.

There have been more than 2,257 hospitalizations associated with the flu, according to the CDC. Some 18 children in the U.S have died from it.

The city of Boston has declared a pubic health emergency as a result of the flu outbreak. Massachusetts said some 18 people have died in the state from flu related illness. South Carolina reports 22 dead so far. Two people died in Sacramento, California. In Minnesota, 900 people were hospitalized because of the flu and four people died.

For the fourth week in a row, the proportion of people seeing health care providers for flu like illness is above the national average and jumped from 2.8 percent to 5.6 percent in that time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last season's proportion peaked at 2.2 percent, the CDC reports.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employee absences are traditionally up during the winter flu season -- some 32 percent higher than the rest of the year. The highest number of absentees was 3.3 million in 2008 -- a severe flu season.

Employees who are sick and go into work aren't really doing their colleagues any favors, said John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc, an outplacement firm.

"Sick employees may think they're doing the right thing by going in but the fact is they are only making matters worse by exposing themsevles to others," Challenger said.

"The business culture is changing and I think most firms are more accepting of people calling in sick, especially during the flu season," said Challenger. (Read more: More Than Flu Hitting)

"What a business should be doing is offering flu shots, and giving comp days to workers who are sick and feel like coming in. Coming in sick and doing sub par work won't really help," argued Challenger.

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