Most severe flu season may go in the books as longest on record, too
Not only has this year's flu season broken records as to how many people have been impacted by the flu, it may soon break records as to how long the season has lasted. For the week ended March 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported influenza-like activity of 3.3%. It's the 16th week ILI has been reported above the national baseline of 2.2%.
And flu activity is likely to remain elevated for several more weeks, the CDC reported.
Only two seasons in the past 10 years have lasted longer - ILI activity for both the 2016/2017 flu season and the 2012/2013 flu season tracked above the 2.2% baseline for a total of 17 weeks.
According to the CDC, current data indicate that the 2017-2018 flu season peaked at 7.5% in early February and is now on the decline. However, 26 states plus Puerto Rico continue to report widespread flu activity and 12 states continue to experience high ILI activity.
The overall hospitalization rate and all age-specific hospitalization rates are higher than the end-of-season hospitalization rates for 2014-2015, a high severity, H3N2-predominant season. CDC also is reporting an additional 9 flu-related pediatric deaths during week 10, bringing the total number of flu-related pediatric deaths reported this season to 128.
While H3N2 viruses remained predominant overall this season, the proportion of influenza B vs. influenza A viruses is now about even. Early vaccine effectiveness estimates through Feb. 3, 2018 show that flu vaccine has reduced the risk of having to go to the doctor due to flu by 36% overall. VE against H3N2 viruses was 25%. VE against H1N1 67% and VE against B viruses was 42%. CDC recommends prompt treatment with influenza antiviral medications for people who are severely ill and people who are at high risk of serious flu complications who develop flu symptoms.
Since Oct. 1, 2017, 25,676 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported through the Influenza Hospitalization Network, a population-based surveillance network for laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations. This translates to a cumulative overall rate of 89.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people in the United States.
And flu activity is likely to remain elevated for several more weeks, the CDC reported.
Only two seasons in the past 10 years have lasted longer - ILI activity for both the 2016/2017 flu season and the 2012/2013 flu season tracked above the 2.2% baseline for a total of 17 weeks.
According to the CDC, current data indicate that the 2017-2018 flu season peaked at 7.5% in early February and is now on the decline. However, 26 states plus Puerto Rico continue to report widespread flu activity and 12 states continue to experience high ILI activity.
The overall hospitalization rate and all age-specific hospitalization rates are higher than the end-of-season hospitalization rates for 2014-2015, a high severity, H3N2-predominant season. CDC also is reporting an additional 9 flu-related pediatric deaths during week 10, bringing the total number of flu-related pediatric deaths reported this season to 128.
While H3N2 viruses remained predominant overall this season, the proportion of influenza B vs. influenza A viruses is now about even. Early vaccine effectiveness estimates through Feb. 3, 2018 show that flu vaccine has reduced the risk of having to go to the doctor due to flu by 36% overall. VE against H3N2 viruses was 25%. VE against H1N1 67% and VE against B viruses was 42%. CDC recommends prompt treatment with influenza antiviral medications for people who are severely ill and people who are at high risk of serious flu complications who develop flu symptoms.
Since Oct. 1, 2017, 25,676 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations have been reported through the Influenza Hospitalization Network, a population-based surveillance network for laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations. This translates to a cumulative overall rate of 89.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 people in the United States.