US flu decline slows as 6 more kids' deaths reported

Child's hand in hospital with IV
Child's hand in hospital with IV

Sasiistock

The springtime decline in US influenza activity showed signs of slowing last week as six more flu-related deaths in children were reported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

Some markers of flu activity were the same as the week before, while others showed smaller decreases than in recent weeks, and at least one was higher, according to the weekly update.

For example, the estimated share of outpatient clinic visits prompted by influenza-like illness (ILI) was 2.1%, the same as a week earlier and equal to the national baseline. For the second week in a row, New Jersey was the only state reporting high ILI activity. Minnesota and Puerto Rico reported moderate ILI activity, as had Hawaii and Puerto Rico the week before.

Also, flu cases were still geographically widespread in 14 states and Puerto Rico, though this was down from 18 states and Puerto Rico the week before

The share of respiratory samples that tested positive for flu was down just slightly, at 13.4% of 16,840, compared with 14.0% of 18,188 the previous week.

The six deaths in children reported last week—there were 10 a week earlier—raised the season's total to 56. Three of the deaths were related to type A/H1N1 viruses, and one was tied to influenza B; the other two involved type A viruses that were not subtyped. One death occurred in late March and the rest this month.

The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and flu in the CDC's 122 Cities Mortality Reporting system inched up to 7.7% last week, from 7.5% the week before, keeping it well above the epidemic threshold of 7.0%.

The cumulative incidence of flu-related hospitalizations for the season crept up to 28.4 per 100,000 people, from 26.6 a week earlier. Among seniors (65 and up), the incidence climbed to 75.0 from 69.6 the week before.

The late-season surge in the percentage of flu cases caused by type B viruses strengthened last week. Of isolates that were tested, 52.7% were type A and 47.3% were type B, compared with 58.2% and 41.8% a week earlier. For the whole season, the split is 71.9% and 28.1%.

See also:

Apr 22 CDC FluView update

Past FluView reports page

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