Influenza activity continues to decline

ATLANTA The 2008/2009 cold and flu season is nearing its end, as influenza activity continued to decline and for the second straight week remained below the national baseline of illness activity.

For the week ended April 4, 1.6% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness. The national baseline is 2.4%.

Only Alabama, New York, Virginia and Washington are still reporting widespread influenza activity, meaning that there is evidence of recent influenza activity in at least half of the regions across the state. That compares to 13 states reporting widespread activity in the week prior. Eighteen states have reported regional activity (influenza evident in less than half but more than one region); and 20 states have reported local activity (one region).