Influenza killed at least 10,000 this season in the U.S.

A man battles the flu at Upson Regional Medical Center in Thomaston, Georgia, U.S. /AP Photo

In the 2019-2020 season so far, there have been at least19 million cases of flu, 180,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths in the U.S., including at least 68 children. Flu activity has been widespread in nearly every region, with high levels of activity in 41 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This flu season in the U.S., which began picking up in mid-November, began earlier than usual last year and carries a strain that hits children the hardest. More than half of those diagnosed with the flu this season are children and young adults under age 25, typically a healthier group of people. Flu season usually peaks between December and February, so the worst still could be expected in the coming days.

So far, the deaths caused by the flu have far surpassed the amount of cases caused bythe novel coronavirus, which has

killed more than 304 people, with 14,411 confirmed cases in China and 140 abroad.

In response to the coronavirus outbreak in China, U.S. authorities issued travel warnings and

many airliners suspended their flights to and from China

, which sparked panic among Americans who flocked to shops, buying up surgical masks quicker than major retailers can restock them.

Two children are examined for flu symptoms. /AP Photo

However, medical experts say the bigger concern for Americans now is the flu rather than the coronavirus. The novel coronavirus overshadows the flu because people fear the unknown, and crave information about new and emerging infections. But they are less panicked about the flu because it's a familiar foe that they believe healthcare providers can control.

The flu's commonness underplays its severity, making people take it less seriously.

Both of the viruses start off similarly: cough, fever, and in some cases difficulty breathing. The key difference is that if one didn't travel specifically to Wuhan, China, or have close contact with a person who is already infected or with suspected coronavirus, the chance of contracting the virus is quite low.

Unlike the novel coronavirus, which has no vaccine, the best way to prevent the flu and its complications is to get vaccinated, especially for children and the elderly, according to health officials. But many Americans skipped it because they don't think it's effective or they're worried it's unsafe, even though CDC research has shown the vaccine effectively reduces the risk of flu in up to 60 percent of the population.

Seasonal influenza kills up to 650,000 people a year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, and the epidemics cause 3 to 5 million severe cases every year.