Flu activity declined in the week ending Feb. 7, meaning the flu has been on the decline for the second week in a row. However, flu levels remain elevated nationwide, according to the most recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of the specimens tested and reported by the collaborating laboratories of the U.S. World Health Organization and the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System, 14.9 percent tested positive for the flu, down from 17.5 percent the week before. But the flu is still at elevated levels because the percent of physician office visits due to influenza-like illness is above the national baseline. For the week ending Feb. 7, the proportion of outpatient visits for flu-like illness was 3.8 percent, above the national baseline of 2 percent.
Even though the flu is still on the decline, the virus continues to be a deadly force. The percentage of pneumonia- and flu-related deaths remained above the epidemic threshold and 11 new flu-associated pediatric deaths were reported to the CDC, according to the report. So far this season, there have been 80 flu-associated pediatric deaths.