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Colorado experiencing 'surge' in influenza hospitalizations

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State health officials in Colorado are reporting a large increase in influenza-related hospitalizations, especially among adults.

“The surge in hospitalizations due to flu is concerning,” Lisa Miller, MD, a state epidemiologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said in a press release. “We normally see higher flu numbers among the young and elderly, but this year there are more cases among people ages 25 to 64. We encourage anyone who hasn’t been immunized this year to get a flu vaccination now.”

According to health officials, the number of influenza-related hospitalizations increased to 748 vs. 509 cases at this time last year. Virological surveillance indicated that virtually all of the cases in Colorado in the 2013-2014 season are associated with influenza  A(H1N1)pdm09 virus. Of the 748 cases, 98% are influenza type A and 2% are influenza type B.

The CDC also has reported that pH1N1 is the predominant circulating virus across the United States, affecting a disproportionate number of young and middle-aged adults.

The CDC recommends that everyone older than 6 months should be vaccinated.