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While influenza is not exactly exploding across the country - likely due to some of the preventive measures still being taken against the COVID pandemic - it continues at moderate levels, particularly across the southern tier of states (see map above).
The key messages from this week's FluView report:
Key Points
- The percent of specimens testing positive for influenza remains stable, indicating that influenza virus circulation has remained at similar levels during the past two weeks, even while overall levels of respiratory illness have declined. While influenza activity is difficult to predict, it is expected to continue for several more weeks.
- The majority of influenza viruses detected are A(H3N2). Most of the H3N2 viruses identified so far this season are genetically closely related to the vaccine virus, but there are some antigenic differences that have developed as H3N2 viruses have continued to evolve.
- The percentage of outpatient visits due to respiratory illness decreased nationally again this week but remains above baseline. Influenza is contributing to levels of respiratory illness, but other respiratory viruses are also circulating. The relative contribution of influenza varies by location.
- The number of hospital admissions reported to HHS Protect declined slightly again this week.
- The cumulative hospitalization rate in the FluSurv-NET system is higher than the rate for the entire 2020-2021 season, but lower than the rate seen at this time during the four seasons preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.
- CDC estimates that so far this season there have been at least 2 million flu illnesses, 20,000 hospitalizations, and 1,200 deaths from flu.
- There’s still time to get vaccinated. An annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications. CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine.
- Flu vaccination coverage so far is lower this season compared to last.
- Flu vaccines are available at many different locations, including pharmacies and health departments. Visit www.vaccines.gov to find a flu vaccine near you.
- There are also flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat flu illness.
For the first time since 2016, HPAI H5Nx viruses have been detected in wild birds in North America (see USDA Confirms 2 Additional HPAI H5N1 Detections In Wild Birds (North & South Carolina), and since their last incursion, the Eurasian clade 2.3.4.4b lineage of H5Nx has been designated as having at least some zoonotic potential.
While primarily a threat to wild birds, poultry, and captive birds, this Eurasian lineage of HPAI H5Nx has recently been linked to increased mammalian infections (see Netherlands: WBVR Diagnoses Avian H5N1 In Another Fox), and sporadic, and thus far mild, human infections (see UKHSA Statement On Human H5 Infection In England).
This Eurasian H5Nx virus is similar to, but from a different lineage, than the more dangerous Asian H5N1 virus that has sparked recurrent pandemic concerns over the past two decades. So far - unlike in Europe - we've not seen any outbreaks in commercial poultry this winter in the Untied States.
While the risks to the general public are undoubtedly very low at this time, the CDC has issued the following statement, along with links to guidance for poultry producers, hunters, and Health Care providers.
Recent Asian A(H5N1) Bird Flu Infections in U.S. Wild Birds Pose a Low Risk to the Public
Guidance is available for poultry producers, hunters, health care providers and the public.
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January 27, 2022—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service (APHIS) recently announced the first detections of Asian highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 viruses in wild birds in the United States since 2016. Wild birds can carry HPAI A(H5N1) bird flu without showing symptoms, but these viruses can cause illness and death in domestic poultry. Human infections with HPAI A(H5N1) bird flu are rare but can occur, usually after close contact with infected birds. CDC considers the health risk to the general public from these recent Asian HPAI A(H5N1) wild bird flu infections to be low at this time. On the animal health side, the U.S. Department of Interior and USDA are the lead federal departments for outbreak investigation and control in wild birds, and USDA APHIS is the lead agency for such activities in domestic birds.
Since 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported 863 cases and 455 deaths pdf icon[251 KB, 4 Pages] from human infection with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in 18 countries, as of January 21, 2022. The most recent human infection with HPAI A(H5N1) was reported in the United Kingdom in January 2022 in association with exposure to domestically kept infected birds. No human infections associated with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses have ever been identified in the United States to date.
Infected birds shed avian influenza virus in their saliva, mucous and feces. Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when enough virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth, or is inhaled. People with close or prolonged unprotected contact with infected birds or contaminated environments may be at greater risk of infection. Illnesses in humans from avian influenza virus infections have ranged in severity from mild to severe. The spread of avian influenza A viruses from one sick person to another is very rare, and when it has happened, it has not led to sustained spread among people.
While CDC considers the current risk to the general public from these HPAI A(H5N1) detections in wild birds to be low, it is important to remember that risk depends on exposure, and people with more exposure may have a greater risk of infection. Guidance varies based on potential exposure. There is existing federal guidance around bird flu exposures for different groups of people, including hunters pdf icon[532 KB, 2 Pages], poultry producers and the general public, as well as health care providers.
As a reminder, it is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. The proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including HPAI viruses.
CDC will provide updates on this situation as needed.
