Influenza activity increased again last week, with every state but Hawaii reporting widespread flu activity, according to the CDC's most recent update on the 2017-18 flu season published Friday.
Here are five things to know.
1. The most frequently identified virus type in positive specimens continued to be influenza A, with a majority of these cases — 89.7 percent — attributable to the H3N2 strain. This strain is associated with more severe illnesses in the elderly and young children. In total, the CDC has identified 65,735 positive influenza A and B specimens for the 2017-18 flu season.
2. The CDC reported 10 additional pediatric flu deaths in the most recent update, increasing the total number of flu-related pediatric deaths to 30 for the current flu season. The agency tallied a total of 110 such deaths for last year's flu season.
3. Every state in the continental U.S. reported widespread flu activity for the second consecutive week, as of Jan. 13. Puerto Rico also reported widespread flu activity; Guam reported regional flu activity; Washington, D.C., and Hawaii reported local influenza; and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported sporadic activity for the week.
4. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 6.3 percent for the week ending Jan. 13. This figure sits above the national baseline of 2.2 percent.
5. The CDC tallied 8,990 laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated hospitalizations between Oct. 1, 2017 and Jan. 13, 2018.
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