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 Jan. 17 – 23, most key flu indicators remained about the same as during the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:
Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness nationally are low.
Overall cumulative hospitalization rates for the 2009-10 influenza season have leveled off in all age groups and very few 2009 H1N1-laboratory confirmed hospitalizations were reported by states during the week ending Jan. 23.
The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza based on the 122 Cities Report increased over the previous week and is higher than expected for this time of year. Thisincrease in P&I is thought to result from an increase in reports of pneumonia-associated deaths in olderpeople. These deaths are not necessarily related to flu illness. Inaddition, another five flu-relatedpediatric deaths were reported this week: four 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 undetermined. Since April, CDC hasreceived reports of 312 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 262 due to 2009 H1N1, 47 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and two pediatric deaths that were associated with seasonalinfluenza viruses. (Laboratory-confirmed deaths are thought torepresent an undercount of the actual number. CDC has provided estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1cases and related hospitalizationsand deaths.
No states reported widespread influ-enza activity. Five states reportedregional influenza activity. They are: Alabama, Georgia, New Jersey, South Carolina 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 theantiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception.
*All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
— Source: www.cdc.gov
For Information: www.quantico.usmc.mil
www.cdc.gov
www.flu.gov
www.publichealth.va.gov⁄Flu⁄pandemicflu.htm
NHCQ Environmental Health Office703-784-1680
E-Mail This Article
Print This Story