Weekly Flu Update: Flu Spreading Hard Across U.S.

Flu season is picking up quickly across the U.S. as winter digs into more of the country.

Patient visits for respiratory illnesses increased to 4.1%, above the national baseline of 3%. Two pediatric deaths this week could be attributed to the flu, bringing the total to 3. Of all clinical lab tests, about 14.8% 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 (5 states and New York City): Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

• Rhode Island reported moderate flu last week, meaning this is a two-step jump from the previous update.
• Colorado, Louisiana, New Jersey and New York all saw high flu activity last week, thus there is a one-step increase this week.
• New York City reported very high flu last week as well. 

High (9 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.): Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and South Carolina.

• Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Mexico and North Carolina all reported low flu activity last week, making a two-step increase this week.
• Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Puerto Rico and South Carolina all reported moderate flu activity last week, marking a one-step increase.

Moderate (8 states): Alabama, California, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

• Tennessee and New Hampshire jumped two steps this week from minimal to moderate levels of flu.
• Alabama, California, Minnesota, Ohio and Virginia reported low flu activity last week, increasing by one step this week.
• Texas reported moderate flu activity last week.

Low (14 states): Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wyoming.

• Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Nevada, Washington and Wyoming all increased from minimal flu activity to low.
• Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon and Pennsylvania all reported low flu activity last week and still report low flu activity.

Minimal (13 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Marianas Islands): Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

• All states and territories listed reported minimal flu activity last week.

Alaska 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