Flu activity continues to increase and is widespread in most of the United States, according to the CDC’s FluView report for the week ending Feb. 4, 2017 (week 5). Influenza A (H3) viruses continue to predominate, according to the CDC report.
Other findings in the CDC report include:
- Five additional flu-associated pediatric deaths for the 2016-2017 season.
- The proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like-illness (ILI) has been at or above the national baseline for eight consecutive weeks so far this season.
- Influenza A (H3) viruses continue to predominate.
- CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months of age and older. Anyone who has not gotten vaccinated yet this season should get vaccinated now.
The proportion of people seeing their healthcare provider for influenza-like illness (ILI) increased to 4.8%, which is above the national baseline of 2.2%. All 10 regions reported ILI at or above their region-specific baseline level. For the last 15 seasons, the average duration of a flu season by this measure has been 13 weeks, with a range from one week to 20 weeks.
