For the seventh week in a row, indicators present that US influenza exercise is dropping, but it surely’s nonetheless above baseline ranges and has been for 18 straight weeks, and flu-related pediatric deaths have reached 168, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned at this time in its weekly replace.
“Seasonal influenza (flu) exercise continues to say no; nevertheless, CDC expects a number of extra weeks of flu exercise,” the CDC mentioned.
The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like sickness, or respiratory sickness, dropped from 3.3% the earlier week to three.2% final however remains to be above the nationwide baseline of three.0% (see CDC graph above). As within the earlier week, 5 US areas are under their baseline ranges.
Solely 2 jurisdictions are reporting excessive or very excessive flu exercise, a pointy drop from 7 the earlier week. Take a look at positivity for flu is now at 9.7%, down from 10.7%. Hospitalizations and deaths are each down, however the cumulative hospitalization price for this season is the best because the 2010-11 season.
9 new pediatric flu deaths carry the season’s whole to 168, the CDC mentioned. That compares with 187 and 207 deaths for the earlier two flu seasons. Seven of the brand new deaths have been from influenza A and two from influenza B.
Low ranges of flu, COVID, RSV in wastewater
In the meantime, COVID-19 ranges additionally proceed to say no from already low ranges, in response to the CDC’s newest information updates at this time. Wastewater detections final week remained low, with the best ranges in components of the South. The speed of total deaths that have been brought on by COVID final week was 0.8% (down barely from 0.9%), just like the 0.9% for flu.
In its replace on the three main respiratory diseases—flu, COVID, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) —the CDC that, nationally, flu (9.7%), and RSV (4.1%) take a look at positivity decreased from the earlier week, whereas COVID-19 (3.7%) remained steady. Wastewater ranges for influenza A are low, whereas for RSV they’re now very low.
