CDC H1N1 Flu Website Situation Update, March 14

CDC H1N1 Flu Website Situation Update, March 14, 2010

Key Flu Indicators

Each week CDC analyzes information about influenza disease activity in the United States and publishes findings of key flu indicators in a report called FluView. During the week of February 28 –March 6, 2010, most key flu indicators remained about the same as during the previous week. Below is a summary of the most recent key indicators:

• Visits to doctors for influenza-like illness (ILI) nationally remained stable and ILI remains low nationally. ILI is also looked at by region and three of 10 U.S. regions are reporting elevated ILI. Elevated ILI was seen in regions 4, 7 and 9. Region 4 is comprised of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Region 7 is comprised of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. And region 9 is comprised of Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada.
• Laboratory-confirmed hospitalizations rates have leveled off and very few hospitalizations were reported by states during the week ending March 6.
• The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) based on the 122 Cities Report showed a very slight decrease over last week and in general remains low. No flu-related pediatric deaths were reported this week. Since April 2009, CDC has received reports of 329 laboratory-confirmed pediatric deaths: 277 due to 2009 H1N1, 50 pediatric deaths that were laboratory confirmed as influenza A, but the flu virus subtype was not determined, and two pediatric deaths that were associated with seasonal influenza viruses. (Laboratory-confirmed deaths are thought to represent an undercountof the actual number. CDC has provided estimates about the number of 2009 H1N1 cases and related hospitalizations and deaths.
• No states reported widespread influenza activity. Five states reported regional influenza activity. They are: Alabama, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi and South Carolina.
• The majority of the influenza viruses identified so far continue to be 2009 H1N1 influenza A viruses. These viruses remain similar to the virus chosen for the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, and remain susceptible to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir with rare exception. Some influenza B viruses are circulating at low levels, and these viruses remain similar to the influenza B virus component of the 2009-10 seasonal flu vaccine.

*All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.