News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – US flu indicators continued their decline last week, though many states are still reporting brisk levels of flu activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

(CIDRAP News) – Deaths from pneumonia and flu in the United States rose sharply last week, with a rise in hospitalizations that continues to hit older people the hardest, though other disease indicators showed declines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

(CIDRAP News) – Influenza activity continued its sharp rise through the last week of 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

"Reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) are nearing what have been peak levels during moderately severe seasons," said Joe Bresee, MD, chief of epidemiology and prevention in the CDC's flu division, in a CDC statement today.

Editor's Note: The fourth paragraph was revised on Jan 2 to clarify the current situation regarding H3N2 dominance.

(CIDRAP News) – US influenza activity continued its ascent last week, judging from the high volumes of patients seeking care for the disease at doctors' offices, while flu indicators in Europe showed a clear spike, according to the latest surveillance reports.