CDC: Key Flu Indicators

 

 

# 4258

 

 

While it is too soon to declare the 2009-10 flu season over, we are obviously seeing a respite from the epidemic levels that we saw earlier in the fall.  Whether we get another wave of pandemic flu, or a return of seasonal (including B) strains of influenza, remains to be seen.

 

The one major indicator that increased over the previous week were pediatric influenza deaths, of which there were  seven.   Each of the two previous weeks had  seen 4 deaths reported.

 

 

During a `normal’ flu year, it would be extraordinary to see 7 pediatric deaths in a single week.   An average year might see 50 to 75 pediatric influenza-related fatalities.

 

Later today, we will get the full weekly FluView report from the CDC, along with Canada’s FluWatch report.

 

While we could still see another wave, for now, the news is encouraging.

 

 

Key Flu Indicators

January 15, 2010, 11:15 AM

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of January 3-9, 2010, all key indicators declined compared to the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally decreased this week over last week. Visits to doctors for ILI also are examined by region. ILI decreased in all 10 regions of the country, but one region (region 9) continues to report elevated activity.
• Overall hospitalization rates are declining.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report decreased over the previous week and remains below what is expected for this time of year. In addition, another seven flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week: six of these deaths were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 and one death was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was not determined. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 300 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 255 due to 2009 H1N1, 43 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and two pediatric deaths that were associated with seasonal influenza viruses. (Laboratory-confirmed deaths are thought to represent an undercount of the actual number. CDC has provided estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1 cases and related hospitalizations and deaths.
• No states reported widespread influenza activity; a decline of one state from last week.  Nine states continue to report regional influenza activity. They are: Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Virginia.
• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

CDC Key Indicators Week 47

 

 

# 4118

 

 

This morning the CDC released their Key Flu Indicators for week 46, which ended November 28th.   Later today the full FluView report should be available.

 

 

Key Flu Indicators

December 4, 2009, 11:00 AM

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of November 22-28, 2009, influenza activity decreased across all key indicators over the previous week, but most indicators remain higher than normal for this time of year. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally decreased again this week over last week. This is the fifth consecutive week of national decreases in ILI after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases. Eight of ten regions continue to report ILI activity above what is expected for this time of year. Two regions (Region 6 and Region 10) are reporting little ILI activity. While ILI has declined, visits to doctors for influenza-like illness still remain elevated nationally.
• Influenza hospitalization rates have decreased across all age groups but remain higher than expected for this time of year. Though declining, hospitalization rates continue to be highest in children 0-4 years old.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report declined over the previous week, but continues to be higher than expected for this time of year. This is the ninth consecutive week that the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) has been above the epidemic threshold.  In addition, 17 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week: 12 of these deaths were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1 and 5 were associated with influenza A viruses, but were not subtyped. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 251 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths:  210 due to 2009 H1N1, 40 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and one pediatric death associated with a seasonal influenza virus. (Laboratory-confirmed deaths are thought to represent an undercount of the actual number. CDC has provided estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1 cases and related hospitalizations and deaths.

• Twenty-five states are reporting widespread influenza activity; a decline of 7 states from last week. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. Seventeen states are reporting regional influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and six states reported local influenza activity, and Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and two states reported sporadic influenza activity.

• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.

*All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.

 

 

CDC: Key Flu Indicators For Week 44

 

 

# 4007

 

We’ll get the complete FluView report later in the day, but the CDC has released their weekly key indicators for the week ending November 7th.

 

Note:The links to this week’s FluView report are in the process of being updated. Current links will direct to last week’s FluView until later today.

 

2009 H1N1 Flu: Situation Update

November 13, 2009, 11:00 AM

Key Flu Indicators

November 13, 2009, 11:30 AM

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView.* During the week of November 1-7, 2009, a review of key indictors found that certain indicators declined, while others continued to rise. Overall, flu activity in the United Sates remained very high. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally decreased this week over last week. This is the second week of national decreases in ILI after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases. (All regions but one showed declines in ILI. Region I (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT) continues to show sharp increases in ILI activity. While ILI declined overall nationally, visits to doctors for influenza-like illness remain higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons.
• Total influenza hospitalization rates for laboratory-confirmed flu continue to climb and remain higher than expected for this time of year. Hospitalization rates continue to be highest in younger populations with the highest hospitalization rate reported in children 0-4 years old.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report continues to increase and has been higher than what is expected for six weeks now. In addition, 35 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week: 26 of these deaths were associated with laboratory confirmed 2009 H1N1; eight were influenza A viruses, but were not subtyped; and one was an influenza B virus. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 156 laboratory-confirmed pediatric 2009 H1N1 deaths, one influenza B death, and another 23 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined.
• Forty-six states are reporting widespread influenza activity at this time; a decline of two states over last week. They are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This many reports of widespread activity at this time of year are unprecedented during seasonal flu.
• Almost all of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception

*All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.