So far this season, there have been eight pediatric flu-related deaths reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the latest CDC FluView report, the most recent week brought two new pediatric flu-related deaths to bring the total for this season up to eight. The majority of influenza viruses detected by laboratories are A(H3N2), the report says.
Overall, the percentage of outpatient visits due to respiratory illness remains stable throughout the nation for the third consecutive week and is below the baseline. The report CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 2.5 million influenza illnesses, 24,000 hospitalizations, and 1,400 deaths attributed to flu.
Hospitalizations due to respiratory illness have recently increased, but case numbers of flu remain stable in most parts of the country. All states are reporting low levels of flu activity.
The flu case positivity rate is currently 4.1% of the 35,541 samples tested during the week. Mortality rates due to respiratory illness are still higher than what is typically seen during flu seasons prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Influenza is contributing to levels of respiratory illness, but other respiratory viruses are also circulating,” the CDC report says.
