Weekly Flu Update: Flu Activity Trend Going Up Again

After three weeks of flu numbers easing off, the virus isn’t done with us yet—this week saw activity creep back up.

Patient visits for respiratory illnesses increased to 4.7%, above the national baseline. Eight pediatric deaths this week could be attributed to the flu, bringing the total to 52, and 1.5% of all deaths were attributable to the flu. Of all clinical lab tests, 18.0% were positive for influenza.

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 (6 states): Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina and Texas.

• Texas saw a two-step increase in flu activity this week, rising from the High level to the Very High level.
• Louisiana moved up one level this week, increasing from the High level to the Very High level.
• Kansas, Missouri, Oregon and South Carolina all reported Very High flu activity last week and remain at the Very High level this week.

High (23 states): Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.

• Mississippi experienced a sharp rise, climbing from the Minimal level to the High level this week.
• Arkansas, California, Indiana and Oklahoma each moved upward two levels shifting from the Moderate level to the High level.
• Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington maintained High flu activity from last week to this week with no change.
• Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire and New Mexico all declined slightly, moving from the Very High level down to the High level.

Moderate (10 states): Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota and West Virginia.

• Arizona and South Dakota both increased one step, rising from the Low level to the Moderate level this week.
• Kentucky, Minnesota and West Virginia remained steady, holding at the Moderate level.

• Alaska, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island decreased in activity one position, moving from the High level down to the Moderate level.

Low (7 states and New York City): Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Nevada, North Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin.

• Illinois and North Dakota showed no movement this week, staying at the Low level.
• Delaware, Nevada and Wisconsin each dipped one step from the Moderate level down to the Low level.
• Connecticut, New York City and Vermont saw a more notable decrease, shifting two steps from the High level down to the Low level.

Minimal (4 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.): Hawaii, Montana, Utah and Wyoming.

• Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Utah remained unchanged this week, continuing at the Minimal level.
• Montana and Wyoming edged downward a step, moving from the Low level to the Minimal level.
• Washington, D.C., saw the largest decline of two steps, dropping from the Moderate level to the Minimal level.

The Northern Marianas and U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.

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