NEW YORK (January 10, 2013)--The flu season arrived early in the U.S. this year, but health officials and experts say it's too early to say this will be a bad one.

In fact, experts say the evidence so far points to a moderate flu season.

They say this one appears to be worse because last year's season was so mild.

Flu usually doesn't blanket the country until late January or February, but it's already widespread in more than 40 states including Texas.

That could change when the next government report comes out Friday.

There are a few factors complicating the situation.

The main flu virus this year tends to make people sicker and there are other bugs out there causing flu-like illnesses, so what some people are calling the flu may, in fact, be something else.