Flu activity remained elevated across most of the U.S. for the week ending March 2, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Six things to know:
1. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness was 4.7 percent for the week ending March 2, marking a slight drop from the week prior. This figure still sits above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. All 10 regions reported influenza-like illness at or above their region-specific baseline level.
2. The CDC confirmed 9,171 positive respiratory specimens for influenza A and 263 positive specimens for influenza B in the week ending March 2. The agency has confirmed 105,413 positive specimens since Sep. 30, 2018.
3. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate increased from 32.1 per 100,000 population for the week ending Feb. 23 to 36.6 per 100,000 for the week ending March 2. The CDC reported 10,567 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1, 2018, through March 2.
4. Thirty-two states experienced high influenza-like illness activity for the week ending Feb. 23. Seven states and Puerto Rico reported moderate activity; eight states and the District of Columbia experienced low activity; and three states experienced minimal activity.
5. Nine pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC for the week ending March 2, bringing the total count to 64 for the 2018-19 season.
6. Forty-eight states and Puerto Rico reported widespread flu activity for the week ending March 2. Two states and the District of Columbia reported local flu activity.
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