Influenza News

There are more signs this week that the United States is experiencing a particularly severe influenza season.

Influenza-related deaths this season have remained elevated for weeks, and hospitalization rates are comparable to the severe 2014-2015 influenza season, a CDC official said during a press conference today.

Parental reports have surfaced linking the use of Tamiflu to pediatric neuropsychiatric events, including hallucinations, seizures and behavioral changes.   

There is considerable concern about the risk for international spread that pathogenic avian influenza viruses pose for humans. Influenza A(H5N1) and A(H7N9) are the two most likely potential threats.

Patients with confirmed influenza can contaminate the air around them without coughing or sneezing, meaning the virus may spread easier than previously thought, according to researchers.

Ten additional pediatric influenza-related deaths have occurred within the second week of the 2017-2018 influenza season, according to a report issued by the CDC, bringing the total number of influenza-associated pediatric deaths to 30 for the season.

Influenza is widespread across virtually the entire continental United States this season, and H3N2 remains the dominant circulating strain, CDC officials said during a Grand Rounds presentation.

As 2017 closes out, national influenza activity is increasing. All 10 US regions characterized by the CDC have reported elevated outpatient influenza-like illness, i.e., above the national or regional-specific baseline. Of all specimens tested positive for influenza virus by national collaborative laboratories, 81.5% have been confirmed as influenza A; of influenza A specimens tested, the vast majority (approximately 90%) have been subtype H3N2.

The rate of influenza-related hospitalizations in the United States nearly doubled in just 1 week as the country deals with a severe but not unprecedented influenza season that is being dominated by a strain associated with reduced vaccine effectiveness and serious illness, CDC officials said.

The CDC recently noted a significant increase in influenza activity over the past several weeks in the United States.