U.S. flu activity is continuing to increase, and 19 states experienced high influenzalike illness activity for the week ending Dec. 29, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Five things to know:
1. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenzalike illness rose to 4.1 percent for the week ending Dec. 29, which is above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. All 10 regions reported influenzalike illness at or above their region-specific baseline level.
2. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu is increasing. The CDC confirmed 3,532 positive specimens for influenza A and 104 positive specimens for influenza B for the week ending Dec. 29.
3. The CDC reported 1,562 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1 through Dec. 29. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate was 5.4 per 100,000 population.
4. Two pediatric flu deaths were reported to CDC for the week ending Dec. 29. A total of 13 pediatric flu deaths have been reported for the 2018-19 season.
5. Twenty-four states reported widespread flu activity for the week ending Dec. 29. Eighteen states reported regional flu activity; six states reported local flu activity; and two states reported sporadic activity.
The percentage of outpatient visits for influenzalike illness rose to 4.1 percent for the week ending Dec. 29, which is above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. All 10 regions reported influenzalike illness at or above their region-specific baseline level.The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu is increasing. The CDC confirmed 3,532 positive specimens for influenza A and 104 positive specimens for influenza B for the week ending Dec. 29.
The CDC reported 1,562 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1 through Dec. 29. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate was 5.4 per 100,000 population.
Two pediatric flu deaths were reported to CDC for the week ending Dec. 29. A total of 13 pediatric flu deaths have been reported for the 2018-19 season.
Twenty-four states reported widespread flu activity for the week ending Dec. 29. Eighteen states reported regional flu activity; six states reported local flu activity; and two states reported sporadic activity.