Influenza activity remains low for the 2017-2018 flu season, according to the CDC's most recent update on seasonal flu activity for the week ending Oct. 28.
Here are five things to know.
1. The percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for influenza in clinical laboratories remained low for the week. The most frequently identified virus type in positive specimens was influenza A.
2. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness for the week was 1.5 percent. This figure sits below the national baseline of 2.2 percent, but represents a 0.2 percent uptick from the week prior.
3. The number of influenza-related pediatric deaths for the 2017-18 flu season remained at one.
4. Guam and four states reported regional flu activity for the week; Puerto Rico and 12 states reported local flu activity; Washington, D.C., and 31 states reported sporadic flu activity; one state reported no activity; and U.S. Virgin Islands and two states did not give the CDC a report on flu activity.
5. Three additional cases of novel influenza A virus derived from pigs were reported by three states for the week. Colorado, Nebraska and Michigan each reported a case, bringing the total case count of variant influenza infections for 2017 to 65.
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