Public health officials say the winter flu season is in full swing.

This week the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention ratcheted up a notch the incidence of flu from “regional” to “widespread.”

The change in the federal flu code designation reflects the confirmed presence of influenza in every part of the state.

Maine Epidemiologist Dr. Stephen Sears says it’s not too late for people to get a flu vaccine.

Sears tells the Bangor Daily News there have been only a handful of flu-related hospitalizations in Maine so far this year, and no flu-related deaths.

He says the people at greatest risk for severe illness and death are young children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with a compromised immune system.