CDC Report Shows Rise in Influenza Cases

In the latest report on influenza, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) found 3.5% of lab tests positive for influenza in the week ending December 11, the majority of which were influenza A(H3N2) in children and young adults aged 5-24.

However, infections are increasing in the older population.

The report also shows 2.7% of visits to a health care provider are for respiratory illnesses and 10 US Health and Human Services (HHS) jurisdictions experienced moderate activity and 2 jurisdictions experienced high or very high activity. Activity is increasing in various parts of the country, particularly the eastern and central parts. In addition, New Mexico, New Jersey, and Georgia were the only states with “high” levels of influenza.

In addition, 0.5% of long-term care facilities reported at least 1 influenza-positive tests among residents during the week. Overall, 1057 patients were admitted to the hospital with influenza during the week and 17.4% of deaths were attributed to pneuomona, influenza, or COVID-19.

However, of the 3330 deaths reported for the week, 2569 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death on the death certificate, while only 8 listed influenza.

On the other hand, there was some positive data as thus far there have been no influenza-associated deaths during the season.

Overall in week 49 there were 70,157 tests conducted, 2438 of which were positive. Of this, 98.6% (n = 2405) were influenza A. For the season, which began on October 3, there have been 588,384 tests conducted and 7516 (1.3%) positive tests. Influenza A makes up 95% of the overall positive tests.