Avian Flu Diary: FluView Week 6: Influenza Remains At An Elevated Level

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The CDC's FluView Week 6 report is out, and it shows that this year's season - while still greatly elevated - may be trying to plateau. As the chart above illustrates, visits to doctors for flu-like illnesses continue to run very near the peak levels seen during the 2009 pandemic.

Even as the number H3N2 cases begins to decrease, the number of influenza B cases continues to rise, this past week making up more than 1/3rd (33.8%) of all flu positive samples tested by the CDC.

Hospitalizations continue to set records (67.4 per 100,000), already exceeding the end-of-season totals seen during the severe 2014-15 flu season when roughly 700,000 people were hospitalized.

With another 6 weeks or more of flu to go, these numbers could go considerably higher.

And tragically, another 22 pediatric flu-related deaths were reported during the past week, although as often is the case, some of these deaths are delayed reports from earlier in the season.

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Some highlights from today's much larger report follow.

2017-2018 Influenza Season Week 6 ending February 10, 2018

All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

Synopsis:
During week 6 (February 4-10, 2018), influenza activity remained elevated in the United States.

Viral Surveillance: The most frequently identified influenza virus subtype reported by public health laboratories during week 6 was influenza A(H3). The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories remained elevated.

Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the system-specific epidemic threshold in the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance System.

Influenza-associated Pediatric Deaths: Twenty-two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.

Influenza-associated Hospitalizations: A cumulative rate of 67.9 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 7.5%, which is above the national baseline of 2.2%. All 10 regions reported ILI at or above region-specific baseline levels. New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 43 states experienced high ILI activity; two states experienced moderate ILI activity; three states experienced low ILI activity; and two states experienced minimal ILI activity.

Geographic Spread of Influenza:The geographic spread of influenza in Puerto Rico and 48 states was reported as widespread; one state reported regional activity; the District of Columbia, Guam and one state reported local activity; and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported no activity.

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As always, it isn't too late to get the flu shot. And with influenza B and H1N1 rising, it could still offer some valuable protection. But most of all, now is the time to practice good flu hygiene.