# 4306
The key indicators for influenza activity around the country remained roughly the same in the latest reporting period as they were in week 2.
Once again the P&I (pneumonia & influenza) Mortality levels remain above the epidemic threshold for this time of year. Not all P&I deaths can be attributed to influenza, however.
Overall, US flu activity continues to be considerably below the levels we saw last October and well below normal for this time of year.
Below you’ll find some excerpts from the CDC’s weekly FluView report. Follow the link to read it in its entirety.
2009-2010 Influenza Season Week 3 ending January 23, 2010
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.
Synopsis:
During week 3 (January 17-23, 2010), influenza activity remained at approximately the same levels this week in the U.S.
- 164 (4.6%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories and reported to CDC/Influenza Division were positive for influenza.
- All subtyped influenza A viruses reported to CDC were 2009 influenza A (H1N1) viruses.
- The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was above the epidemic threshold.
- Five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported. Four deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined.
- The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 1.7% which is below the national baseline of 2.3%. Two of the 10 regions (Regions 4 and 9) reported ILI equal to their region-specific baseline.
- No states reported widespread influenza activity, five states reported regional influenza activity, Puerto Rico and nine states reported local influenza activity, the District of Columbia, Guam, and 33 states reported sporadic influenza activity, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and three states reported no influenza activity.
U.S. Virologic Surveillance:
WHO and NREVSS collaborating laboratories located in all 50 states and Washington D.C., report to CDC the number of respiratory specimens tested for influenza and the number positive by influenza type and subtype. The results of tests performed during the current week are summarized in the table below.
Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance
During week 3, 8.3% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to P&I. This percentage was above the epidemic threshold of 7.7% for week 3, and is the second consecutive week that the percentage of P&I deaths has been above the epidemic threshold.
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality
Five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC during week 3 (New York [4] and Wisconsin). Four deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and one was associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype was undetermined. The deaths reported during week 3 occurred between November 8, 2009 and January 2, 2010.
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