Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC

Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report | Seasonal Influenza (Flu) | CDC

Weekly Influenza Surveillance

The most recent FluView report shows that flu activity decreased slightly, but remains elevated in United States. While it’s possible that activity might have peaked for the season, some parts of the country are still experiencing high levels of flu activity and ongoing activity is expected to continue for several weeks nationally.

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors' visits, and missed work and school due to flu illness, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.

CDC also recommends that patients suspected of having influenza who are athigh risk of flu complications or who are very sick with flu-like illness should receive prompt treatment with influenza antiviral drugs without waiting for confirmatory testing.

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Synopsis:

During week 13 (March 27-Aprl 2, 2016), influenza activity decreased slightly, but remained elevated in the United States.

• Viral Surveillance: The most frequently identified influenza virus type reported by public health laboratories during week 13 was influenza A, with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses predominating. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories decreased.
• Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the system-specific epidemic threshold in the NCHS Mortality Surveillance System and above the system-specific epidemic threshold in the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System.
• Influenza-associated Pediatric Deaths: Seven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
• Influenza-associated Hospitalizations: A cumulative rate for the season of 24.4 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported.
• Outpatient Illness Surveillance: The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 2.4%, which is above the national baseline of 2.1%. Eight of 10 regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. Two states experienced high ILI activity; seven states experienced moderate ILI activity; New York City and 13 states experienced low ILI activity; Puerto Rico and 27 states experienced minimal ILI activity; and the District of Columbia and one state had insufficient data.
• Geographic Spread of Influenza: The geographic spread of influenza in Puerto Rico and 25 states was reported as widespread; Guam and 18 states reported regional activity; the District of Columbia and four states reported local activity; three states reported sporadic activity; and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.