Influenza by the numbers

Flu season is underway in the U.S. That means visits to the doctor, vaccinations, medication, time off work and — in some severe cases — visits to the emergency room. All of this comes at a price, which the Centers for Disease Control estimates somewhere between $71 billion and $167 billion per year. Estimates of the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy are only $50 billion. Take a look at the infographic to see what kind of economic damage influenza can do.