CDC: 995 new cases of influenza confirmed during influenza season week 52

CDC. FluView Report. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/. Accessed Jan. 10, 2011.

During influenza season week 52 (December 26–January 1), 995 of 4,911 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 6,611 since October 3, 2010, according to the CDC’s weekly FluView report.

In week 52, influenza A accounted for 65.9% of the influenza cases, and influenza B accounted for 34.1%. Among the influenza A cases, 41% of these were subtyped at influenza A (H3) and 6.7% were subtyped as influenza A (2009 H1N1). The remaining cases were not subtyped.

There was one influenza-associated pediatric deaths reported during week 52. Four total pediatric deaths have been reported during the 2010-2011 season: one death was associated with a non-subtyped influenza A virus, two deaths were associated with influenza A (H3), and one death was associated with influenza B virus. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza overall during week 52 was 7.7%, and was below the epidemic threshold.

The proportion of visits for influenza-like illness during week 52 was 2.6%, which is above the national baseline. Four regions reported influenza-like illnesses above the region-specific baseline levels. Six states and New York City reported high influenza-like illness activity. Six states experienced low influenza-like illness activity. Thirty-five states experienced minimal influenza-like illness activity. Two states experienced moderate influenza-like illness. One state and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.

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