Twenty-six states were still experiencing high influenza activity during the week ending March 23, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Six things to know:
1. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness fell to 3.8 percent for the week ending March 23, but it still sits above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. All 10 U.S. regions reported influenza-like illness at or above their region-specific baseline.
2. The CDC confirmed 6,876 positive respiratory specimens for influenza A in the week ending March 23, which marks a significant drop from the previous week. The agency also confirmed 373 positive specimens for influenza B, up slightly from the week prior.
3. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate increased from 47.1 per 100,000 for the week ending March 16 to 52.5 per 100,000 for the week ending March 23. The CDC reported 15,165 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations between Oct. 1, 2018, and March 23.
4. Twenty states experienced high influenza-like illness activity for the week ending March 23, down six states from a week prior. Thirteen states and Puerto Rico reported moderate activity; seven states and the District of Columbia experienced low activity; and 10 states experienced minimal activity.
5. One pediatric flu death was reported to the CDC for the week ending March 23, bringing the total count to 77 for the 2018-19 season.
6. Flu was widespread in 34 states and Puerto Rico for the week ending March 23. Fourteen states reported regional flu activity, and the District of Columbia and two states reported local flu activity.