CDC tracks sharp uptick in flu

ATLANTA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracked a significant increase in the proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness for the week ended Feb. 4.



ILI nationwide reached 4.8%, well above the national baseline of 2.2% and a sharp uptick in the 3.9% in ILI reported the week prior. All 10 regions reported ILI at or above their region-specific baseline levels, with New York City and 23 states experiencing high ILI activity and 10 states experiencing moderate ILI activity.



That's a measure of the severity of influenza activity. Geographically, influenza is also significantly widesepread. Outbreaks of influenza or increases in ILI cases and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state is defined as "widespread."



For the week ended Feb. 4, widespread influenza activity was reported by Puerto Rico and 43 states.