While the percentage of laboratory specimens that tested positive for influenza during the week ending March 4 decreased to 18.6 percent — down from 24.2 percent the week prior — flu activity remained elevated, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Eight pediatric deaths related to influenza infections were reported for week nine — the week ending March 4 — of the 2016-2017 flu season. The eight patients who died were infected in weeks six, seven and eight. The eight deaths bring the total number of pediatric deaths this flu season to 48.
Since the beginning of October 2016 through the week ending March 4, the CDC has reported 12,173 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations. The number is up from 11,018 flu hospitalizations reported the week ending Feb. 25. The additional cases increased the overall flu hospitalization rate for the season from 39.4 per 100,000 people reported week eight to 43.5 per 100,000 people in week nine.
Puerto Rico and 39 states reported widespread flu activity for the week ending March 4, up from 27 states the week prior.
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