# 3879
The CDC has posted FluView for week 41, ending October 17th, 2009. The level of activity we are seeing is roughly what we might expect during the height of the flu season, not during mid-October.
37.5% of all ILI samples tested were positive for the novel H1N1 virus.
The 122 MRS P&I mortality rate was above the epidemic level for the 3rd week in a row.
Another 11 pediatric deaths were added last week, bringing the total during the month of September and up till October 17th, of 53.
I’ve excerpted some of the data and graphs below, but follow the link to read it in its entirety.
U.S. Virologic Surveillance:
WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories located in all 50 states and Washington D.C. report to CDC the number of respiratory specimens tested for influenza and the number positive by influenza type and subtype. The results of tests performed during the current week are summarized in the table below.
Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance
During week 41, 6.9% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 6.6% for week 41. Including week 41, P&I mortality has been above threshold for three consecutive weeks.
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality
Eleven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 41 (Georgia [2], Hawaii, Louisiana, Oklahoma [2], Ohio, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Virginia). Nine of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and two were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined.
