# 4261
While this week’s trends were telegraphed in yesterday’s Key Indicators release from the CDC, the new edition of FluView fills in some of the details.
Once again, we are seeing sizable drops in most of the flu indicators in this latest reporting period. The number of pediatric flu deaths increased over the previous two reporting periods, but included cases from as far back as last October.
A few excerpts from this week’s report. Follow the link to read it in its entirety.
2009-2010 Influenza Season Week 1 ending January 9, 2010
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Synopsis:
During week 1 (January 3-9, 2010), influenza activity continued to decrease in the U.S.
- 139 (3.6%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
- All subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
- One human infection with a novel influenza A virus was reported.
- The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the epidemic threshold.
- Seven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Six deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined.
- The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 1.9% which is below the national baseline of 2.3%. One of the 10 regions (region 9) reported ILI above their region-specific baseline.
- No states reported widespread influenza activity, nine states reported regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 15 states reported local influenza activity, Guam and 24 states reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and two states reported no influenza activity.
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 1, 7.3% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was below the epidemic threshold of 7.6% for week 1.
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality
Seven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 1 (Illinois, Michigan, New York [2], Oregon, and Texas [2]). Six deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined.. The deaths reported during week 1 occurred between October 11 and December 19, 2009.
