CDC Releases Flu Activity Update

The CDC has released an update on flu activity for the 2018-2019 season.

The data concerns influenza activity for the week ending January 5, 2019.

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Among the findings:

• Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses have predominated in most regions, while influenza A(H3) viruses were most common in the Southeast.
• The majority of circulating viruses show similarity to references viruses used for this year’s vaccine, and all viruses showed susceptibility to neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir, zanamivir, and peramivir).
• While the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness decreased from 4% to 3.5%, it still remains above the 2.2% national baseline.
• New York City and 15 states experienced high influenza-like activity, while 12 states experienced moderate activity, 8 experienced low activity, and 15 experienced minimal activity.
• The cumulative rate of hospitalizations for influenza-like illness was 9.1 per 100,000.
• Three pediatric influenza-related deaths were reported.

The CDC’s full report, as well as preliminary in-season burden estimates, are available at the CDC’s website.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

CDC. Weekly US influenza surveillance report. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm. Page updated January 11, 2019. Accessed January 14, 2019.