Weekly Flu Update: Flu Reports on a Slow Decline

Seasonal influenza activity remains elevated but is decreasing in most areas this week.

Clinical laboratories reported 15.3% positivity for influenza, and 3.7% of outpatient visits were for respiratory illness; both are still above baseline. The influenza‑attributed mortality was 0.5% of all deaths. The CDC reported 11 additional pediatric deaths this week, for a season total of 101.

Our flu surveillance product will continue to focus on the severity of the flu rather than the geographic spread. This information is reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by each state’s health department, ranging on a scale from “minimal” to “very high” levels of activity.

States and territories reporting flu include the following activity and trends:

Very High (1 state): Missouri.

• Missouri saw Very High activity last week as well.

High (15 states): Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

• Arkansas, Kentucky and Virginia all saw an increase in flu activity this week, moving from Moderate to High.
• Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee remain at High flu activity levels.

• Idaho, New Mexico and Oregon decreased from Very High to High flu levels.

Moderate (11 states): Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Washington and West Virginia.

• Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Washington and West Virginia maintained their moderate level of flu activity this week.
• Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana and New Hampshire all saw a decrease in flu levels from High to Moderate.

Low (13 states): Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont.

• North Dakota saw an increase in flu activity from Minimal to Low.
• Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Vermont remain at a Low level of flu activity.

• Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Texas recorded a drop from Moderate to Low levels of flu activity.

Minimal (10 states, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Washington, D.C., New York City and the Virgin Islands): Hawaii, Maryland, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

• The Northern Marianas, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Maryland, Montana, New York City, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Utah, the Virgin Islands and Wyoming remain at a Minimal level of flu activity.
• Alaska, Delaware, Mississippi and Wisconsin’s flu activity decreased from Low to Minimal.

Flu Facts:
     The CDC recommends that everyone older than six months get the seasonal flu vaccine, either via an injection or nasal spray. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist to learn about flu vaccine side effects, precautions, and vaccine options—several multi-strain variations are available this year.
        
     Due to certain health restrictions, not everyone is eligible to receive the flu shot. If you cannot get vaccinated, there are other ways to minimize your risk of contracting and spreading the flu:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
• If you are sick, avoid exposing others by staying home from work or school.
• Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
• Wash your hands frequently.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Lastly, getting a flu shot is not a guarantee that you won’t catch the flu, but it can help reduce the risk and severity of symptoms. The CDC urges doctors to prescribe one or a combination of the three available prescription antiviral drugs to patients with flu-like symptoms. If given early enough, antivirals can lessen the intensity and duration of influenza symptoms.
        
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Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention