CDC: 744 new cases of influenza confirmed during influenza season week 50

CDC FluView Report. Available at: www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/. Accessed Dec. 29, 2010.

During influenza season week 50 — Dec. 12 to Dec. 18 — 744 of 4,733 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 3,907 since Oct. 3, according to the CDC’s weekly FluView report.

In week 50, influenza A accounted for 55.9% of the influenza cases, and influenza B accounted for 44.1%. Among the influenza A cases, 41.1% were subtyped as influenza A (H3) and 5.3% were subtyped as influenza A (2009 H1N1). The remaining cases were not subtyped.

There were no influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported during week 50. Two pediatric deaths have been reported during the 2010-2011 season. The first death was associated with a non-subtyped influenza A virus, and the second death was associated with influenza A (H3). The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza overall during week 50 was 6.7%, which was below the epidemic threshold.

The proportion of visits for influenza-like illness during week 50 was 2.1%, which is below the national baseline. One region reported influenza-like illnesses above the region-specific baseline levels. Forty-three states and the District of Columbia reported minimal influenza-like illness activity. Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi experienced high influenza-like illness activity.

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