CDC: 1,158 new cases of influenza confirmed during influenza season week 11

During the week of March 13 to March 19, 1,158 of 6,144 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 47,004 since Oct. 3, according to the CDC’s weekly FluView report.

In week 11 of the influenza surveillance period, influenza A accounted for 72.1% of the influenza cases, and influenza B accounted for 27.9%. Among the influenza A cases, 37.8% of these were subtyped as influenza A (H3) and 28.4% were subtyped as influenza A (2009 H1N1). The remaining cases were not subtyped.

There were six influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported during week 11. Seventy-seven total pediatric deaths have been reported during the 2010-2011 season: 15 deaths were associated with a non-subtyped influenza A virus, 16 deaths were associated with influenza A (H3), 17 were associated with a 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus, and 29 deaths were associated with influenza B virus. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza overall during week 11 was 8.6%, which is more than the epidemic threshold.

The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness during week 11 was 2.5%, which is the national baseline. Six regions reported influenza-like illnesses at or more than the region-specific baseline level. One state reported high influenza-like illness activity. Eleven states experienced low influenza-like illness activity. Thirty-five states and New York City experienced minimal influenza-like illness activity. Two states experienced moderate influenza-like illness activity. The District of Columbia and one state had insufficient data.

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