CDC: 1,346 new cases of influenza confirmed during influenza season week 10

During the week of March 6 to March 12, 1,346 of 6,384 specimens tested by WHO and the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System were positive for influenza, bringing the total number of influenza cases to 44,568 since Oct. 3, according to the CDC’s weekly report.

In week 10 of the 2011 influenza surveillance period, influenza A accounted for 72.9% of the influenza cases, and influenza B accounted for 27.1%. Among the influenza A cases, 39.3% of these were subtyped as influenza A (H3) and 29.4% were subtyped as influenza A (2009 H1N1). The remaining cases were not subtyped.

There were 11 influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported during week 10. Seventy-one total pediatric deaths have been reported during the 2010-2011 season: 14 deaths were associated with a non-subtyped influenza A virus, 14 deaths were associated with influenza A (H3), 16 were associated with a 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, and 27 deaths were associated with influenza B virus. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza overall during week 10 was 8.6%, which was more than the epidemic threshold.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness during week 10 was 3%, which is more than the national baseline. Eight regions reported influenza-like illnesses at or more than the region-specific baseline level. Four states reported high influenza-like illness activity. Eleven states experienced low influenza-like illness activity. Twenty-eight states and New York City experienced minimal influenza-like illness activity. Six states experienced moderate influenza-like illness activity. The District of Columbia and one state had insufficient data.

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