Flu-like activity picking up across South

ATLANTA — This year's influenza virus is beginning its prominence in the South, as Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas reported high influenza-like illness activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. 

Oklahoma reported moderate ILI activity. 

For those who got a flu shot this year, so far they appear to be well protected. 

CDC has antigenically characterized 317 influenza viruses, including 265 2009 H1N1 viruses, 46 influenza A (H3N2) viruses and 6 influenza B viruses since Oct. 1. 

All 265 2009 H1N1 viruses tested were characterized as A/California/7/2009-like, the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine. Likewise, all 46 influenza A (H3N2) viruses tested have been characterized as A/Texas/50/2012-like, the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine. 

Two of the six influenza B viruses tested belong to B/Yamagata/16/88-lineage and the remaining four influenza B viruses tested belong to B/Victoria/02/87 lineage.

The two influenza B/Yamagata-lineage viruses were characterized as B/ Massachusetts/2/1012-like, which is included as an influenza B component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines.

And the four influenza B/Victoria-lineage viruses were characterized as B/Brisbane/60/2008-like, which is included as an influenza B component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere quadrivalent influenza vaccine.