As U.S. flu activity increases, the CDC has confirmed 43,071 positive respiratory specimens for influenza A since Sept. 30, according to the CDC's most recent FluView report.
Five things to know:
1. In the week ending Jan. 26, the CDC confirmed 5,922 positive respiratory specimens for influenza A and 120 positive specimens for influenza B.
2. The percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness increased to 3.8 percent for the week ending Jan. 26, above the national baseline of 2.2 percent. All 10 regions reported influenza-like illness at or above their region-specific baseline level.
3. Two pediatric flu deaths were reported to the CDC for the week ending Jan. 26, bringing the total number of pediatric flu deaths to 24 for this season.
4. The CDC reported 4,423 laboratory-confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1, 2018, through Jan. 26. The overall flu-associated hospitalization rate was 15.3 per 100,000 population.
5. Forty-five states reported widespread flu activity for the week ending Jan. 26. Three states reported regional flu activity, and two states reported local flu activity.