# 6282
The CDC’s latest FluView report (week 14) shows that our below-average flu season in the United States continues to decline, although influenza activity is still described as `widespread’ in ten states.
Today’s FluView also contains official notification of the H3N2v case from Utah, which has been widely reported on this week (see Novel (H3N2v) Flu Detected In Weber County, Utah).
First, the notification on the H3N2v case, then few additional excerpts from today’s report:
Novel Influenza A Viruses:
One human infection with a novel influenza A virus was detected in a child in Utah. The child was infected with an influenza A (H3N2) variant virus similar to those identified in the 12 human infections that occurred between July and November 2011 in Indiana (2), Pennsylvania (3), Maine (2), Iowa (3) and West Virginia (2). The child has recovered. Contact with swine in the week preceding onset of the child’s illness was reported. State public health and agriculture officials are investigating case contacts and sources of exposure; no additional confirmed cases have been detected at this time. Additional information on these cases can be found in the CDC Flu Spotlight posting.
2011-2012 Influenza Season Week 14 ending April 7, 2012
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Synopsis:
During week 14 (April 1-7, 2012), influenza activity was elevated in some areas of the United States, but declined nationally and in most regions.
- U.S. Virologic Surveillance: Of the 3,607 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, 756 (21.0%) were positive for influenza.
- Novel influenza A Virus: One human infection with a novel influenza A virus was identified.
- Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance: The proportion of deaths attributed to P&I was below the epidemic threshold.
- Influenza-associated Pediatric Mortality: No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported.
- Outpatient Illness Surveillance: The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 1.5%, which is below the national baseline of 2.4%. Region 10 reported ILI above its region-specific baseline level. One state experienced moderate ILI activity, 1 state experienced low ILI activity; New York City and 48 states experienced minimal ILI activity, and the District of Columbia had insufficient data to calculate ILI activity.
- Geographic Spread of Influenza: Ten states reported widespread geographic activity; 9 states reported regional influenza activity; 20 states reported local activity; the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 11 states reported sporadic activity, and Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported no influenza activity.
Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance:
During week 14, 7.5% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was below the epidemic threshold of 7.8% for week 14.
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality:
No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 14. A total of 13 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported during the 2011-2012 season.
While this most recent flu season has happily been one of the lightest in years, the mix of flu viruses circulating today - and their impact - may be different come next fall.
And so the old adage applies.
If you’ve seen one flu season . . . you’ve seen one flu season.
