The CDC reports that the influenza situation in the states is still elevated and that individuals who haven’t been vaccinated yet should do so, particularly in areas where rates of influenza-like illness (ILI) are increasing.
See the FluView website for more detailed information.
Among the findings for the past week:
- The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold.
- Three influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
- A season-cumulative rate of 22.5 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported.
- The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 3.2%, above the national baseline of 2.0%.
- The geographic spread of influenza in 29 states was reported as widespread; 19 states reported regional influenza activity; the District of Columbia and one state reported local influenza activity; Guam, Puerto Rico, and one state reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported no influenza activity.
- Of 8,282 specimens tested and reported during week 5 by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories, 1,626 (19.6%) were positive for influenza.