Thirteen other states are reporting flu outbreaks worse than New York's - but health officials fear this year's strain is spreading feverishly in the Big Apple and the Empire State.

So far, the virus is blamed for the deaths of at least six kids in Colorado, three in Texas and one each in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Word of the widening flu outbreak came as the two top flu shot makers said they've already run out of the vaccine as Americans frantically rush to get shots in the wake of the earliest and worst flu outbreaks to hit the nation in years.

But the New York state and city Health Departments yesterday said they still have a large vaccine supply.

Drugmakers Chiron and Aventis Pasteur said they have depleted their combined 80 million doses of the vaccine.

They said their supplies are usually more than enough to meet Americans' demand - between 70 and 75 million get the shots each year.

"Because of the recent outbreak, we've seen an unprecedented surge of vaccine orders late in the season," said Aventis spokesman Len Lavenda.

"As a result, we have now shipped all our available supplies."

Chiron spokesman John Gallagher said: "It's all been shipped out. We began shipping in August. It's all gone at this point."

The drug companies said they can't make more vaccine this year because the process takes four months and by that time the flu season will be over.

However, those still seeking a flu shot may be able to find them, since distributors and doctors' offices may still have some supplies in stock.

And there's also the inhaled version of the vaccine called FluMist.

The more expensive form of the vaccine - it costs up to five times more than the shots - is made by MedImmune Vaccines, but it's only approved for healthy individuals between the ages of 5 to 49.

CDC chief Dr. Julie Gerberding said the federal agency is working feverishly to locate supplies.

"What we are telling people is there is still vaccine in the pipeline, although we are not sure how much," she said.

"People who want to get a flu shot this year should not wait any longer.

"People wishing to be vaccinated may need to be persistent to find vaccine.

Kids are most vulnerable to the flu because their bodies have not previously been exposed to the virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs.

At least 100 people across New York state have been hospitalized with the flu, including one person diagnosed with the deadly Fujian strain, health officials said.

Complications from the flu kill about 36,000 Americans a year, according to the CDC.

Meanwhile, an Indiana coroner ruled the mystery death of a 10-year-old girl was not from the flu. With Post Wire Services