2016-2017 Influenza Season Week 14 ending April 8, 2017
April 15th, 2017Synopsis:
During week 14 (April 2-8, 2017), influenza activity decreased but remained elevated in the United States.
- Viral Surveillance: The most frequently identified influenza virus type reported by public health laboratories during week 14 was influenza B. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza in clinical laboratories decreased.
- Pneumonia and Influenza Mortality: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza (P&I) was below the system-specific epidemic threshold in the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance System.
- Influenza-associated Pediatric Deaths: Five influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported, four that occurred during the 2016-2017 season and one that occurred during the 2010-2011 season.
- Influenza-associated Hospitalizations: A cumulative rate for the season of 59.4 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations per 100,000 population was reported.
- Outpatient Illness Surveillance: The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) was 2.6%, which is above the national baseline of 2.2%. Five of ten regions reported ILI at or above their region-specific baseline levels. Two states experienced high ILI activity; seven states experienced moderate ILI activity; New York City and 11 states experienced low ILI activity; Puerto Rico and 30 states experienced minimal ILI activity; and the District of Columbia had insufficient data.
- Geographic Spread of Influenza: The geographic spread of influenza in 18 states was reported as widespread; Guam, Puerto Rico, and 18 states reported regional activity; the District of Columbia and 12 states reported local activity; two states reported sporadic activity; and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported no activity.
