Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update
2007-2008 Influenza Season Week 41, ending October 13, 2007
(All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received.)Synopsis
During week 41 (October 7-13, 2007), a low level of influenza activity was reported in the United States.
- Twenty-one (1.9%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza.
- The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza was slightly above the epidemic threshold.
- The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory illness (ARI) was below national and region-specific baseline levels.
- Twelve states and the District of Columbia reported sporadic influenza activity; and 38 states reported no influenza activity.
| Region | Data for current week | Data cumulative for the season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentinel Provider ILI* | DoD and VA ARI* | % pos. for flu† | # jurisdictions reporting regional or widespread activity‡ | A (H1) | A (H3) | A Unsub-typed | B | Pediatric Deaths | |
| Nation | Normal | Normal | 1.9% | 0 of 51 | 8 | 1 | 29 | 2 | 0 |
| New England | Normal | Normal | 0% | 0 of 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mid-Atlantic | Normal | Normal | 0% | 0 of 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| East North Central | Normal | Normal | 0% | 0 of 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West North Central | Normal | Normal | 0.2% | 0 of 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| South Atlantic | Normal | Normal | 4.4% | 0 of 9 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| East South Central | Normal | Normal | 0% | 0 of 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| West South Central | Normal | Normal | 1.0% | 0 of 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mountain | Normal | Normal | 1.8% | 0 of 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pacific | Normal | Normal | 3.9% | 0 of 5 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
* Elevated means the % of visits for ILI or ARI is at or above the national or region-specific baseline
† National data is for current week; regional data is for the most recent 3 weeks.
‡ Includes all 50 states and the District of Columbia
Laboratory Surveillance
During week 41, WHO and NREVSS laboratories reported 1,136 specimens tested for influenza viruses, 21 (1.9%) of which were positive, including five influenza A (H1) viruses (Mountain region), one influenza A (H3) virus (South Atlantic region), 14 influenza A viruses that were not subtyped (Pacific, South Atlantic, and West South Central regions), and one influenza B virus (Pacific region).
View Chart Data | View Full Screen
Pneumonia and Influenza (P&I) Mortality Surveillance
During week 41, 6.0% of all deaths reported through the 122-Cities Mortality Reporting System were reported as due to P&I. This percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 5.8% for week 41. This is the sixth consecutive week that the percentage of deaths due to P&I has been above the epidemic threshold. No other component of the national surveillance system showed evidence of increased influenza activity or virus circulation. Both national and regional percentages of death due to P&I during the last six weeks are similar to the percentages reported during this time period last year. The baseline percentage of P&I deaths is projected for the current season based on P&I data from the previous five years. The five-year period used to project the current season’s baseline included three mild seasons, therefore, the elevation relative to the baseline may be due to in part to the lowering of the baseline values. However, potential explanations for the increase in P&I mortality above threshold continue to be investigated.
View Full Screen
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Mortality
No influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported during week 41.
View Full Screen
Influenza-Associated Pediatric Hospitalizations
Laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated pediatric hospitalizations are monitored in two population-based surveillance networks: the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) and the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN). EIP estimated rates of hospitalization for influenza will be reported every two weeks beginning October 26, 2007. NVSN estimated rates of hospitalization for influenza will be reported every two weeks, beginning November 30, 2007.
Outpatient Illness Surveillance
Nationwide during week 41, 1.3% of patient visits reported through the U.S. Influenza Sentinel Provider Surveillance Network were due to influenza-like illness (ILI) and 1.8% of patient visits to Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) outpatient treatment facilities were for acute respiratory illness (ARI). These percentages are less than the national baseline of 2.2% and 3.2%, respectively. On a regional level, the percentage of visits for ILI ranged from 0.4% to 3.2% and the percentage of visits for ARI ranged from 0.8% to 2.7%. All nine regions reported percentages of visits for ILI and ARI below their respective region-specific baselines. All five age groups reported percentages of visits for ARI below their respective age-specific baselines.
View Chart Data |View Full Screen
View Full Screen
Geographic Spread of Influenza as Assessed by State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Influenza activity was reported as sporadic in 12 states (California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, and Utah) and the District of Columbia. Thirty-eight states reported no influenza activity.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A description of surveillance methods is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm
- Page last updated October 12, 2007
- Content Source: Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases (CCID)
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD)
