FluView Week 6
# 6940
The number of flu cases around the country continues to drop, but levels of P&I (Pneumonia & Influenza) Mortality remain high, as do hospitalization rates for those over the age of 65.
H3N2 remains the main player in our flu season (whereas H1N1 and Influenza B are more prominent in Europe), and as we often see with an H3N2 heavy season, the elderly are being hit particularly hard.
Some excerpts from this weeks FluView.
2012-2013 Influenza Season Week 6 ending February 9, 2013
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Synopsis:
During week 6 (February 3 - 9, 2013), influenza activity remained elevated in the United States, but decreased in most areas.
- Viral Surveillance: Of 7,608 specimens tested and reported by collaborating laboratories, 1,499 (19.7%) were positive for influenza.
- Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold.
- Influenza-Associated Pediatric Deaths: Five pediatric deaths were reported.
- Influenza-Associated Hospitalizations: A cumulative rate for the season of 32.1 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported. Of reported hospitalizations, more than 50% were among adults 65 years and older.
Outpatient Illness Surveillance: The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 3.2%. This is above the national baseline of 2.2%. All 10 regions reported ILI above region-specific baseline levels. Eleven states and New York City experienced high ILI activity; 10 states experienced moderate activity; the District of Columbia and 13 states experienced low activity, and 16 states experienced minimal activity.
Geographic Spread of Influenza: Thirty-one states reported widespread influenza activity; Puerto Rico and 14 states reported regional influenza activity; the District of Columbia and 4 states reported local influenza activity; Guam and one state reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands did not report.
Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance:
During week 6, 9.1% of all deaths reported through the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 7.5% for week 6.
Along with the slight uptick in P&I mortality chart above, the hospitalization rate for those over 65 also notched up again.
And lastly, while 5 pediatric flu-related deaths were reported in week 6, all occurred in weeks prior to this latest reporting period.
While the influenza season may be showing signs of receding, the advice from the CDC on flu prevention still remains very much worth following.
Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu–like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
