CDC: 48 states report widespread flu activity

ATLANTA The H1N1 influenza pandemic was in full swing as of the week ended Oct. 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A total of 48 states reported widespread influenza activity, which means heightened influenza activity was reported in more than half of each state’s regions. The other two states, Hawaii and South Carolina, reported regional activity, which means more than one but less than half of that state’s regions reported heightened activity.

Deaths among children as a result of the H1N1 pandemic are also significantly higher this year as compared to seasons past. Twenty-two influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported to CDC between Aug. 23 and Oct. 24. Nineteen of these deaths were associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection and three were associated with an influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined.

Since Aug. 30, CDC has received 74 reports of influenza-associated pediatric deaths that occurred during the current influenza season (nine deaths in children less than 2 years old, nine deaths in children 2 to 4 years old, 27 deaths in children 5 to 11 years old and 29 deaths in individuals 12 to 17 years old). Sixty-five of the 74 deaths were due to 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infections, and the remaining nine were associated with influenza A virus for which the subtype is undetermined. A total of 114 deaths in children associated with 2009 H1N1 virus have been reported to CDC.

For comparison, seasonal flu was identified as the cause of death in 78 and 88 children, respectively, during the corresponding 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons. As many as 117 deaths were reported last season, in part because of the spike of H1N1 illness late in the season.

Nationwide, 8% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness. This percentage is above the national baseline of 2.3%.

On a regional level, the percentage of outpatient visits for ILI ranged from 4.7% to 12%, and increased in 6-of-the-10 surveillance regions compared with the previous week. All 10 regions reported a proportion of outpatient visits for ILI above their region-specific baseline levels.