The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 2.6 percent for the week of Dec. 20-26, rising above the national baseline of 2.1 percent, established in previous years, according to the CDC. Six of 10 regions in the U.S. reported incidence of flu-like illness at or above their region-specific baselines.
No flu-associated pediatric deaths were reported for the week and the proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and flu-like illness was below system-specific thresholds in both the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System and the National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance System. Influenza A remains the most predominant strain of the virus.