Update on Influenza

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) checks on flu disease activity weekly. In their Weekly Digest e-mail they described the use of the following key indicators for their report:

1) Visits to doctors for "influenza-like illness"

2) hospitalization rates for laboratory confirmed flu

3) deaths from pneumonia and influenza

4) degree of widespread influenza activity

5) types of influenza viruses identified.

They reported that illnesses like influenza decreased nationally this past week except for the states of Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island where there were reports
of increased influenza activity, and the number of visits to doctors for such illnesses was higher than normal. Hospitalization rates for "laboratory confirmed" flu was higher than normal for this time of year, and the highest hospitalization rates were reported in children 0-4 years of age.

The proportion of deaths due to pneumonia and the flu has also exceeded normal expectations for the last six weeks. Most states reported widespread influenza activity. Most of the influenza viruses have been identified as the H1N1 type A virus, and they are similar to the one chosen for the H1N1 vaccine.

In general, the number of people suffering from flu remained high.

Rhoda H. Senator, EdD