Flu activity in the U.S. remained slightly elevated in the week ending Dec. 8, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Five things to know:
1. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenzalike illness remained at 2.2 percent, the national baseline.
2. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu remains low. The CDC confirmed 613 positive specimens for influenza A and 52 positive specimens for influenza B in the week ending Dec. 8.
3. The CDC reported 544 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1 through Dec. 8. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate was 1.9 per 100,000 population.
4. One pediatric flu death was reported to CDC for the week ending Dec. 8. A total of six pediatric flu deaths have been reported for the 2018-19 season.
5. California, Georgia and Massachusetts reported widespread flu activity for the week ending Dec. 8. Ten states reported regional flu activity; 21 states reported local flu activity; and 16 states reported sporadic activity.